Difference between revisions of "Ehira"

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'''Ehira''' was a Japanese camera maker before and after World War II. It was founded by Ehira Shinjirō<REF> First name: see the title of an article in ''Kurashikku Kamera Senka'' no.&nbsp;51, reproduced in [http://leicahiroba.web.infoseek.co.jp/Siryou01-06.html this page] as 江平信次郎のカメラ. </REF> and based in Yao, in the suburbs of Osaka.<REF> The address in 1943 was Ōsaka-fu Nakakawachi-gun Yao-chō<!-- or Yao-machi --> Kozakai 148 (大阪府中河内郡八尾町小阪合148) and in 1949 it was Ōsaka-fu Yao-shi Kozakai 148 (大阪府八尾市小阪合一四八), the same address in the new administrative system. Source: {{Inquiry1943_short}} compiled in April 1943 and advertisement dated November 1949 reproduced in {{Kokusan}}, p.&nbsp;121. </REF> (Most Japanese camera companies were in Tokyo, with the notable exception of [[Minolta|Chiyoda Kōgaku]], later Minolta, in Osaka.) It is said that Ehira Shinjirō worked for Chiyoda Kōgaku before founding his own company.<REF> Awano, p.&nbsp;1 of ''Camera Collectors' News'' no.&nbsp;41. </REF>
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'''Ehira''' was a Japanese camera maker before and after World War II. It was founded by Ehira Shinjirō<REF> First name: see the title of an article in {{KKS}} no.&nbsp;51, reproduced in [http://leicahiroba.web.infoseek.co.jp/Siryou01-06.html this page] as 江平信次郎のカメラ. </REF> and based in Yao, in the suburbs of Osaka.<REF> The address in 1943 was Ōsaka-fu Nakakawachi-gun Yao-chō<!-- or Yao-machi --> Kozakai 148 (大阪府中河内郡八尾町小阪合148) and in 1949 it was Ōsaka-fu Yao-shi Kozakai 148 (大阪府八尾市小阪合一四八), the same address in the new administrative system. Source: {{Inquiry1943_short}} compiled in April 1943 and advertisement dated November 1949 reproduced in {{Kokusan}}, p.&nbsp;121. </REF> (Most Japanese camera companies were in Tokyo, with the notable exception of [[Minolta|Chiyoda Kōgaku]], later Minolta, in Osaka.) It is said that Ehira Shinjirō worked for Chiyoda Kōgaku before founding his own company.<REF> Awano, p.&nbsp;1 of {{CCN}} no.&nbsp;41. </REF>
  
 
It seems that the first camera designed by Ehira was the [[Weha Chrome Six]] distributed by [[Yamamoto Shashinki-ten]], notable for its coupled rangefinder device, inspired by the [[Super Ikonta]] and other [[Zeiss Ikon]] cameras. The first examples were perhaps made in Yamamoto's own workshop.<REF> An advertisement dated October 1937 reproduced in {{Kokusan}}, p.&nbsp;59, mentions Yamamoto as the maker and distributor (製造発売元) of the Weha Chrome Six. </REF> Later examples have the ''Ehira KSK'' logo and were certainly made by Ehira, the last ones being called Ehira Chrome Six with no mention of Weha. Ehira also made the [[Weha Six]] 6&times;6 folder also distributed by Yamamoto. The name Weha certainly belonged to the distributor and the Weha accessories and the older Weha plate folders were certainly not made by Ehira.<REF> McKeown, p.&nbsp;255, mistakenly says that Ehira made the [[Weha plate folders|Weha Light]] plate folder. </REF>
 
It seems that the first camera designed by Ehira was the [[Weha Chrome Six]] distributed by [[Yamamoto Shashinki-ten]], notable for its coupled rangefinder device, inspired by the [[Super Ikonta]] and other [[Zeiss Ikon]] cameras. The first examples were perhaps made in Yamamoto's own workshop.<REF> An advertisement dated October 1937 reproduced in {{Kokusan}}, p.&nbsp;59, mentions Yamamoto as the maker and distributor (製造発売元) of the Weha Chrome Six. </REF> Later examples have the ''Ehira KSK'' logo and were certainly made by Ehira, the last ones being called Ehira Chrome Six with no mention of Weha. Ehira also made the [[Weha Six]] 6&times;6 folder also distributed by Yamamoto. The name Weha certainly belonged to the distributor and the Weha accessories and the older Weha plate folders were certainly not made by Ehira.<REF> McKeown, p.&nbsp;255, mistakenly says that Ehira made the [[Weha plate folders|Weha Light]] plate folder. </REF>
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== Bibliography ==
 
== Bibliography ==
 
* {{Showa10}}
 
* {{Showa10}}
* Awano Mikio (粟野幹男). "Weha Chrome Six" (ウエハークロームシックス). In ''Camera Collectors' News'' no.&nbsp;41 (December 1980). Nishinomiya: Camera Collectors News-sha.
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* Awano Mikio (粟野幹男). "Weha Chrome Six" (ウエハークロームシックス). In {{CCN}} no.&nbsp;41 (December 1980). Nishinomiya: Camera Collectors News-sha.
* "Ehira Shinjirō no kamera" (江平信次郎のカメラ, "Ehira Shinjirō's cameras"). ''Kamera Rebyū: Kurashikku Kamera Senka'' (カメラレビュー クラシックカメラ専科) / ''Camera Review: All about Historical Cameras'' no. 51, June 1999. Tokyo: Asahi Sonorama. (Never seen but the title is given by [http://leicahiroba.web.infoseek.co.jp/Siryou01-06.html this page at Leica Hiroba].)
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* "Ehira Shinjirō no kamera" (江平信次郎のカメラ, "Ehira Shinjirō's cameras"). {{KKS}} (カメラレビュー クラシックカメラ専科) / ''Camera Review: All about Historical Cameras'' no. 51, June 1999. Tokyo: Asahi Sonorama. (Never seen but the title is given by [http://leicahiroba.web.infoseek.co.jp/Siryou01-06.html this page at Leica Hiroba].)
 
* {{Inquiry1943}}
 
* {{Inquiry1943}}
 
* {{McKeown12}} P.&nbsp;255.
 
* {{McKeown12}} P.&nbsp;255.
  
 
[[Category: Japanese camera makers]]
 
[[Category: Japanese camera makers]]

Revision as of 16:36, 29 May 2007

Ehira was a Japanese camera maker before and after World War II. It was founded by Ehira Shinjirō[1] and based in Yao, in the suburbs of Osaka.[2] (Most Japanese camera companies were in Tokyo, with the notable exception of Chiyoda Kōgaku, later Minolta, in Osaka.) It is said that Ehira Shinjirō worked for Chiyoda Kōgaku before founding his own company.[3]

It seems that the first camera designed by Ehira was the Weha Chrome Six distributed by Yamamoto Shashinki-ten, notable for its coupled rangefinder device, inspired by the Super Ikonta and other Zeiss Ikon cameras. The first examples were perhaps made in Yamamoto's own workshop.[4] Later examples have the Ehira KSK logo and were certainly made by Ehira, the last ones being called Ehira Chrome Six with no mention of Weha. Ehira also made the Weha Six 6×6 folder also distributed by Yamamoto. The name Weha certainly belonged to the distributor and the Weha accessories and the older Weha plate folders were certainly not made by Ehira.[5]

The full name of the company in the early period is not certain; in 1943 it was called Ehira Kōgaku Kikai Kōjō (江平光学精機工場, meaning Ehira Optics and Precision Plant).[6]

After the war, the company was called Ehira Kōki Seisakusho (江平光機製作所, meaning Ehira Optical Works). It produced the Ehira Six and Astoria Super Six coupled-rangefinder 6×6 folders copied from the Super Ikonta.

Camera list

Notes

  1. First name: see the title of an article in Kurashikku Kamera Senka no. 51, reproduced in this page as 江平信次郎のカメラ.
  2. The address in 1943 was Ōsaka-fu Nakakawachi-gun Yao-chō Kozakai 148 (大阪府中河内郡八尾町小阪合148) and in 1949 it was Ōsaka-fu Yao-shi Kozakai 148 (大阪府八尾市小阪合一四八), the same address in the new administrative system. Source: "Kokusan shashinki no genjōchōsa" ("Inquiry into Japanese cameras") compiled in April 1943 and advertisement dated November 1949 reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 121.
  3. Awano, p. 1 of Camera Collectors' News no. 41.
  4. An advertisement dated October 1937 reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 59, mentions Yamamoto as the maker and distributor (製造発売元) of the Weha Chrome Six.
  5. McKeown, p. 255, mistakenly says that Ehira made the Weha Light plate folder.
  6. This is the name given in the "Kokusan shashinki no genjōchōsa" ("Inquiry into Japanese cameras") listing the Japanese camera production as of April 1943.

Bibliography