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 {{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>
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'''Ehira''' was a Japanese camera maker before and after World War II, founded by Ehira Shinjirō 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}} and advertisement dated November 1949 reproduced in {{Kokusan}}, p.&nbsp;121. </REF> (Most Japanese camera companies were in Tokyo, with the notable exception of Molta, then Chiyoda Kōgaku, predecessor of [[Minolta]], in Osaka.)
  
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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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Before founding his own company, Ehira Shinjirō worked for [[Minolta|Molta]]. There he drew plans for a metal focal plane shutter, patented by the firm in November 1932.<REF> Nakagawa, p.120. The patent number is S8-3457. </REF> It is said that he was also largely responsible of the innovative design of the [[Minolta Vest]], a collapsible camera made of [[bakelite]].<REF> Tanimura, p.32. </REF>
  
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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).<REF> This is the name given in the {{Inquiry1943_short}} listing the Japanese camera production as of April 1943. </REF>
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Ehira Shinjirō founded '''Ehira Kōki''' (江平光機) in 1936.<REF> Date: Tanimura, p.33. </REF> The first product of the company was an accessory rangefinder, distributed by [[Yamamoto Shashinki-ten]] under its own Weha brand.<REF> Weha rangefinder made by Ehira: Tanimura, p.33. </REF> The earlier Weha products, such as the [[Weha plate folders]], were not made by Ehira.<REF> {{McKeown}}, p.255, mistakenly attributes the [[Weha plate folders|Weha Light]] plate folder to Ehira. </REF>
  
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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&times;6 folders copied from the [[Super Ikonta]].
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The first camera made by Ehira was the [[Weha Chrome Six]], notable for its coupled rangefinder device, inspired by the [[Super Ikonta]] and other [[Zeiss Ikon]] cameras. The earliest examples were perhaps made in Yamamoto's own workshop.<REF> An October 1937 advertisement reproduced in {{Kokusan}}, p.59, mentions Yamamoto as the maker and distributor (製造発売元) of the Weha Chrome Six. Tanimura, p.33, however says that the Ehira plant was set up in 1936 and that the Ehira company produced the Weha Chrome Six from the start. </REF> Ehira also made the [[Weha Six]] 6&times;6 folder and the Auto Rapid Ehira and Kōki TTSH shutters mounted on the two camera models. The last examples of the [[Weha Chrome Six]] have no mention of Weha and are called Ehira Chrome Six.
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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).<REF> Full name in 1943: {{Inquiry1943_short}}. </REF> The logo was ''Ehira KSK'' inside a doublet lens scheme.
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After the war, the company was called '''Ehira Kōki Seisakusho''' (江平光機製作所, meaning Ehira Optical Works). It produced a small number of [[Weha Chrome Six|Weha Chrome Six and Ehira Chrome Six]] from the remaining stocks of parts, then released the [[Ehira Six and Astoria Super Six]] coupled-rangefinder 6&times;6 folders, more directly copied from the [[Super Ikonta]].
  
 
== Camera list ==
 
== Camera list ==
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* [[Weha Six|Weha Six I and II]]
 
* [[Weha Six|Weha Six I and II]]
 
* [[Ehira Six and Astoria Super Six|Ehira Six IIIA and Astoria Super Six IIIB]]
 
* [[Ehira Six and Astoria Super Six|Ehira Six IIIA and Astoria Super Six IIIB]]
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== Other ==
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* Weha accessory rangefinder, chrome, long base, available in metres or in feet (sold &yen;15 in 1936)<REF> Metres or feet: Tanimura, p.33. Price: [http://syasinsyuu.cool.ne.jp/camera/L1.jpg advertisement] published in ''[[Sunday Mainichi]]'' (December 13, 1936), reproduced in the [http://kyoto.cool.ne.jp/syasinsyuu/index.htm Gochamaze website]. </REF>
  
 
== Notes ==
 
== Notes ==
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== Bibliography ==
 
== Bibliography ==
 
* {{Showa10}}
 
* {{Showa10}}
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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.
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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;42 (December 1980, the cover wrongly has "no.41"). Nishinomiya: Camera Collectors News-sha.
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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].)
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* (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.
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* Nakagawa Chū (中川忠). "Metaru fōkaru purēn shattā no hensen (dai-ikkai)" (メタルフォーカルプレーンシャッターの変遷[第１回], Evolution of the metal focal-plane shutter [part 1]). {{KKS051}} Pp.118&ndash;22.
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* Tanimura Yoshihiko (谷村吉彦). "Ehira Shinjirō no kamera: Ehira Kōki, Uehā kara Eruchina made" (江平信次郎のカメラ・江平光機、ウエハーからエルチナまで, The cameras of Ehira Shinjirō, from the Weha to the Eltina). {{KKS051}} Pp.32&ndash;9.
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== Links ==
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In Japanese:
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* [http://syasinsyuu.cool.ne.jp/camera/L1.jpg Advertisement showing the Weha rangefinder], published in the December 13, 1936 issue of ''[[Sunday Mainichi]],'' reproduced in the [http://syasinsyuu.cool.ne.jp/camera/syasinki-c.htm camera company page] of the [http://kyoto.cool.ne.jp/syasinsyuu/index.htm Gochamaze website]
  
 
[[Category: Japanese camera makers]]
 
[[Category: Japanese camera makers]]
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[[Category: Ehira|*]]

Revision as of 23:44, 26 October 2007

Ehira was a Japanese camera maker before and after World War II, founded by Ehira Shinjirō and based in Yao, in the suburbs of Osaka.[1] (Most Japanese camera companies were in Tokyo, with the notable exception of Molta, then Chiyoda Kōgaku, predecessor of Minolta, in Osaka.)

Before founding his own company, Ehira Shinjirō worked for Molta. There he drew plans for a metal focal plane shutter, patented by the firm in November 1932.[2] It is said that he was also largely responsible of the innovative design of the Minolta Vest, a collapsible camera made of bakelite.[3]

Ehira Shinjirō founded Ehira Kōki (江平光機) in 1936.[4] The first product of the company was an accessory rangefinder, distributed by Yamamoto Shashinki-ten under its own Weha brand.[5] The earlier Weha products, such as the Weha plate folders, were not made by Ehira.[6]

The first camera made by Ehira was the Weha Chrome Six, notable for its coupled rangefinder device, inspired by the Super Ikonta and other Zeiss Ikon cameras. The earliest examples were perhaps made in Yamamoto's own workshop.[7] Ehira also made the Weha Six 6×6 folder and the Auto Rapid Ehira and Kōki TTSH shutters mounted on the two camera models. The last examples of the Weha Chrome Six have no mention of Weha and are called Ehira Chrome Six.

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).[8] The logo was Ehira KSK inside a doublet lens scheme.

After the war, the company was called Ehira Kōki Seisakusho (江平光機製作所, meaning Ehira Optical Works). It produced a small number of Weha Chrome Six and Ehira Chrome Six from the remaining stocks of parts, then released the Ehira Six and Astoria Super Six coupled-rangefinder 6×6 folders, more directly copied from the Super Ikonta.

Camera list

470008033_6e73227902_t_d.jpg

Other

  • Weha accessory rangefinder, chrome, long base, available in metres or in feet (sold ¥15 in 1936)[9]

Notes

  1. ↑ 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") and advertisement dated November 1949 reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 121.
  2. ↑ Nakagawa, p.120. The patent number is S8-3457.
  3. ↑ Tanimura, p.32.
  4. ↑ Date: Tanimura, p.33.
  5. ↑ Weha rangefinder made by Ehira: Tanimura, p.33.
  6. ↑ McKeown, p.255, mistakenly attributes the Weha Light plate folder to Ehira.
  7. ↑ An October 1937 advertisement 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. Tanimura, p.33, however says that the Ehira plant was set up in 1936 and that the Ehira company produced the Weha Chrome Six from the start.
  8. ↑ Full name in 1943: "Kokusan shashinki no genjōchōsa" ("Inquiry into Japanese cameras").
  9. ↑ Metres or feet: Tanimura, p.33. Price: advertisement published in Sunday Mainichi (December 13, 1936), reproduced in the Gochamaze website.

Bibliography

Links

In Japanese:

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