Difference between revisions of "Neumann & Heilemann"

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(more info, mainly from Tanimura's article)
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== History ==
 
== History ==
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Billy Neumann had previously worked for [[Krauss]] in Paris, and Willy Heilemann for [[Kenngott]], then they had helped Kazuo Tashima to found the Nichidoku company, later Molta (predecessor of [[Minolta]]).<REF> Career of Neumann and Heilemann before entering Nichidoku: see Tanimura, p.96 of {{KKS}} no.12. </REF> Heilemann left Molta in November 1931, followed by Neumann in 1932, to found their own company.<REF> Dates: Tanimura, p.96 of {{KKS}} no.12. </REF> It is said that it was called '''Neumann & Heilemann Feinmechanisch Werkstätten Gōshi-gaisha''' (ノイマン・ハイレマン・ファインメハニシェ・ウエルクステッテン合資会社), and its logo was ''NH'' inside a circle.<REF> Company name: Tanimura, p.96 of {{KKS}} no.12. </REF>
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Billy Neumann had previously worked for [[Krauss]] in Paris, and Willy Heilemann for [[Kenngott]], then they had helped Kazuo Tashima to found the Nichidoku company, later Molta (predecessor of [[Minolta]]).<REF> Career of Neumann and Heilemann before entering Nichidoku: Tanimura, p.96 of {{KKS}} no.12, and Awano, p.1 of {{CCN}} no.114. </REF> Heilemann left Molta in November 1931, followed by Neumann in 1932.<REF> Dates: Tanimura, p.96 of {{KKS}} no.12, and Awano, p.1 of {{CCN}} no.114. </REF> They founded their own company, called '''Neumann & Heilemann Feinmechanisch Werkstätten Gōshi-gaisha''' (ノイマン・ハイレマン・ファインメハニシェ・ウエルクステッテン合資会社), whose logo was ''NH'' inside a circle.<REF> Dates and company name: Tanimura, p.96 of {{KKS}} no.12. The company name is confirmed by an extract of the ''Kōbe Shinbun'' (27 September 1937) reproduced on p.99 of the same source. </REF> It was installed in a new plant in Takagi (高木), currently Ōmori-chō (大森町) in the city of Nishinomiya (西宮市), near the Mukogawa (武庫川) river.<REF> Tanimura, p.97 of {{KKS}} no.12. </REF>
  
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The company made the [[Neuheil]], [[Rulex]] and [[Perfect|Perfect or Perfekt]] shutters as well as lenses and maybe cameras.
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The company made the [[Neuheil]], [[Rulex]], [[Perfect|Perfect and Perfekt]] shutters. It also made Radionar and other lenses, certainly assembling imported [[Schneider]] elements into a locally-produced barrel.<REF> Tanimura, p.50 of {{KKS}} no.11, says that Schneider lenses were imported as separate elements and were assembled in Japan. Awano, p.2 of {{CCN}} no.114, says that the Neotar f/4.5 and Radionar f/3.5 lenses of the [[Prince Flex]] were perhaps imported as separate elements or already mounted in a barrel, but that the tariff structure was favorable to local assembly from separate parts. </REF>
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The company became involved in the production of machine tools, under the impulsion of Billy Neumann, and made an experimental motor tricycle.<REF> Tanimura, pp.98–9 of {{KKS}} no.12, partly based on the testimony of a former employee of the company. </REF>
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Neumann & Heilemann finally developed the [[Prince Flex]], the first Japanese TLR, first advertised in August 1937 by the distributor [[Fukada|Fukada Shōkai]]. It is said that the body was bought from a sub-contractor (perhaps [[Fujimoto]]), and that the company only proceeded to the main assembly.<REF> Testimony of a former employee of the company interviewed in Tanimura, p.98 of {{KKS}} no.12. </REF>
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Billy Neumann founded the separate company Neumann Seiki (ノイマン精機) in August 1937, to manufacture machine tools in a new plant in the nearby city of Ashiya (芦屋市).<REF> Tanimura, p.99 of {{KKS}} no.12. </REF> The company Neumann & Heilemann was dissolved on 11 September 1937.<REF> Extract of the ''Kōbe Shinbun'' (27 September 1937) reproduced in Tanimura, p.99 of {{KKS}} no.12. </REF> All the assets and trademarks were sold to [[Fujimoto|Fujimoto Shashinki Seisakusho]], and the Takagi plant became Fujimoto's Mukogawa plant, reportedly called Mukogawa Shashin Kōgyō (武庫川写真工業, meaning Mukogawa Photo Industries).<REF> Tanimura, p.99 of {{KKS}} no.12. </REF> (The [[Semi Lucky]] by Fujimoto would be produced in this Mukogawa plant.)<REF> Tanimura, p.51 of {{KKS}} no.11. </REF> Fujimoto continued the production of the [[Prince Flex]] camera and [[Rulex]] and [[Perfekt]] shutters, and the assembly of the Radionar lenses. The ''NH'' logo and "Neumann & Heilemann" markings were kept on all these products, and it is not possible to identify for sure those which were made after Fujimoto's takeover.
  
 
== Cameras ==
 
== Cameras ==
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The company certainly participated in the development of the [[Prince Flex]], the first Japanese TLR (1937), distributed by [[Fukada|Fukada Shōkai]]. It sold a plant in Mukogawa to [[Fujimoto]] in 1937,<REF> Tanimura, p.51 of {{KKS}} no.11. </REF> and the Prince Flex was perhaps taken over by Fujimoto at the same time (see [[Prince Flex]]). (The [[Semi Lucky]] by Fujimoto would be produced in this Mukogawa plant.)<REF> Tanimura, p.51 of {{KKS}} no.11. </REF>
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* [[Prince Flex]]
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The attribution of the [[Condor folders]] to Neumann & Heilemann is a mistake.<REF> Mistake in {{McKeown}}, p.717. Most Condor folders have a [[Rulex]] shutter made by the company. </REF>
 
The attribution of the [[Condor folders]] to Neumann & Heilemann is a mistake.<REF> Mistake in {{McKeown}}, p.717. Most Condor folders have a [[Rulex]] shutter made by the company. </REF>
  
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== Bibliography ==
 
== Bibliography ==
 
* {{Showa10}}
 
* {{Showa10}}
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* Awano Mikio (粟野幹男). "Purinsufurekkusu" (プリンスフレックス, Prince Flex). In {{CCN}} no.114 (December 1986). Nishinomiya: Camera Collectors News-sha.
 
* {{Baird Japanese}}
 
* {{Baird Japanese}}
 
* Hibi Takashi (日比孝). "Nihon no supuringu kamera: Orinpasu" (日本のスプリングカメラ・オリンパス, "Japanese folding cameras: Olympus"). {{KKS008}} Pp.62–5.
 
* Hibi Takashi (日比孝). "Nihon no supuringu kamera: Orinpasu" (日本のスプリングカメラ・オリンパス, "Japanese folding cameras: Olympus"). {{KKS008}} Pp.62–5.

Revision as of 12:20, 22 April 2008

Neumann & Heilemann was a company founded in the 1930s by Billy Neumann and Willy Heilemann, two German people living in Japan.

History

Billy Neumann had previously worked for Krauss in Paris, and Willy Heilemann for Kenngott, then they had helped Kazuo Tashima to found the Nichidoku company, later Molta (predecessor of Minolta).[1] Heilemann left Molta in November 1931, followed by Neumann in 1932.[2] They founded their own company, called Neumann & Heilemann Feinmechanisch Werkstätten Gōshi-gaisha (ノイマン・ハイレマン・ファインメハニシェ・ウエルクステッテン合資会社), whose logo was NH inside a circle.[3] It was installed in a new plant in Takagi (高木), currently Ōmori-chō (大森町) in the city of Nishinomiya (西宮市), near the Mukogawa (武庫川) river.[4]

The company made the Neuheil, Rulex, Perfect and Perfekt shutters. It also made Radionar and other lenses, certainly assembling imported Schneider elements into a locally-produced barrel.[5]

The company became involved in the production of machine tools, under the impulsion of Billy Neumann, and made an experimental motor tricycle.[6]

Neumann & Heilemann finally developed the Prince Flex, the first Japanese TLR, first advertised in August 1937 by the distributor Fukada Shōkai. It is said that the body was bought from a sub-contractor (perhaps Fujimoto), and that the company only proceeded to the main assembly.[7]

Billy Neumann founded the separate company Neumann Seiki (ノイマン精機) in August 1937, to manufacture machine tools in a new plant in the nearby city of Ashiya (芦屋市).[8] The company Neumann & Heilemann was dissolved on 11 September 1937.[9] All the assets and trademarks were sold to Fujimoto Shashinki Seisakusho, and the Takagi plant became Fujimoto's Mukogawa plant, reportedly called Mukogawa Shashin Kōgyō (武庫川写真工業, meaning Mukogawa Photo Industries).[10] (The Semi Lucky by Fujimoto would be produced in this Mukogawa plant.)[11] Fujimoto continued the production of the Prince Flex camera and Rulex and Perfekt shutters, and the assembly of the Radionar lenses. The NH logo and "Neumann & Heilemann" markings were kept on all these products, and it is not possible to identify for sure those which were made after Fujimoto's takeover.

Cameras

The attribution of the Condor folders to Neumann & Heilemann is a mistake.[12]

Shutters

Lenses

  • Radionar 7.5cm f/4.5, certainly assembled from elements supplied by Schneider[13]
  • Radionar 7.5cm f/3.5
  • Neotar 7.5cm f/4.5
  • Radionar 10.5cm f/4.5
  • Tritar 10.5cm f/4.5[14]

List of cameras equipped with a Neumann & Heilemann lens (this list is incomplete, and that a model appears in the list does not mean that all its variants are concerned):

Notes

  1. ↑ Career of Neumann and Heilemann before entering Nichidoku: Tanimura, p.96 of Kurashikku Kamera Senka no.12, and Awano, p.1 of Camera Collectors' News no.114.
  2. ↑ Dates: Tanimura, p.96 of Kurashikku Kamera Senka no.12, and Awano, p.1 of Camera Collectors' News no.114.
  3. ↑ Dates and company name: Tanimura, p.96 of Kurashikku Kamera Senka no.12. The company name is confirmed by an extract of the Kōbe Shinbun (27 September 1937) reproduced on p.99 of the same source.
  4. ↑ Tanimura, p.97 of Kurashikku Kamera Senka no.12.
  5. ↑ Tanimura, p.50 of Kurashikku Kamera Senka no.11, says that Schneider lenses were imported as separate elements and were assembled in Japan. Awano, p.2 of Camera Collectors' News no.114, says that the Neotar f/4.5 and Radionar f/3.5 lenses of the Prince Flex were perhaps imported as separate elements or already mounted in a barrel, but that the tariff structure was favorable to local assembly from separate parts.
  6. ↑ Tanimura, pp.98–9 of Kurashikku Kamera Senka no.12, partly based on the testimony of a former employee of the company.
  7. ↑ Testimony of a former employee of the company interviewed in Tanimura, p.98 of Kurashikku Kamera Senka no.12.
  8. ↑ Tanimura, p.99 of Kurashikku Kamera Senka no.12.
  9. ↑ Extract of the Kōbe Shinbun (27 September 1937) reproduced in Tanimura, p.99 of Kurashikku Kamera Senka no.12.
  10. ↑ Tanimura, p.99 of Kurashikku Kamera Senka no.12.
  11. ↑ Tanimura, p.51 of Kurashikku Kamera Senka no.11.
  12. ↑ Mistake in McKeown, p.717. Most Condor folders have a Rulex shutter made by the company.
  13. ↑ Tanimura, p.50 of Kurashikku Kamera Senka no.11, says that Schneider lenses were imported as separate elements and were assembled in Japan.
  14. ↑ Examples pictured in this page at ksmt.com, and in Hibi, p.65 of Kurashikku Kamera Senka no.8.

Bibliography

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