Ehira
Ehira was a Japanese camera maker before and after World War II. Its full name was Ehira Kōki Seisakusho (江平光機製作所, meaning Ehira Optical Works) and its logo read Ehira KSK. Ehira was the name of Ehira Shinjirō (江平信次郎). Ehira made 6×6 rangefinder cameras, folding or rigid, with a coupled rangefinder looking like the Super Ikonta.
- Weha Chrome Six, 1937
- Weha Chrome Six II, 1938
- Weha Chrome Six III or Ehira Chrome Six, 1940
- Ehira Six, postwar, reported with Lansar 85/3.5 (mistake for Lausar?), Ehira Rapid shutter
The Weha Chrome Six was distributed by Yamamoto Shashinki-ten, which was probably the owner of the "Weha" brand. The Weha Light 6.5×9 folding plate camera is mentioned in McKeown under Ehira, but it was only distributed by Yamamoto Shashinki-ten[1] and probably unrelated to Ehira.
A 6×6 folding camera has been sold at an eBay auction as a Weha Six. It had a body release, a black tubular optical finder, a 400-1-B-T shutter marked Kōki T.T.S.H. and a 75/3.5 lens marked Weha Anastigmat.
An accessory rangefinder marked WEHA in a box marked WEHA Range Finder has been sold at a Yahoo Japan auction. (See also this advertisement published in the December 13, 1936 issue of Sunday Mainichi, reproduced in the camera company page of the Gochamaze website.)
Notes
Bibliography
- McKeown, James M. and Joan C. McKeown's Price Guide to Antique and Classic Cameras, 12th Edition, 2005-2006. USA, Centennial Photo Service, 2004. ISBN 0-931838-40-1 (hardcover). ISBN 0-931838-41-X (softcover). P. 255.
