Difference between revisions of "Ehira"

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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.)
 
'''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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== History ==
 
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>
 
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>
  

Revision as of 11:50, 27 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.)

History

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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