Difference between revisions of "Umemoto"
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| − | '''Umemoto Seisakusho''' (梅本製作所, i.e. Umemoto Works) is a Japanese company, founded in 1935 by Umemoto Kinzaburō (梅本金三郎) | + | '''Umemoto Seisakusho''' (梅本製作所, i.e. Umemoto Works) is a Japanese company, founded in 1935 by Umemoto Kinzaburō (梅本金三郎). |
| − | Before the war, the company made the [[Super Makinet Six|Super Makinet Six and Neure Six]] 6×6 strut-folders and the [[Super Flex Baby]] 4×4 [[SLR]], which was | + | The founder had already installed a small plant in Yodogawa in 1931, where he was acting as a subcontractor for his former employer.<REF> According to the [http://umemoto.ecnet.jp/corp2/corp2.htm Umemoto company history], the address was Tōkyō-shi Honjo-ku Yokogawa (東京市本所区横川). </REF> In 1932, he was asked by the distributor [[Kikōdō]] to set up a camera plant.<REF> [http://umemoto.ecnet.jp/corp2/corp2.htm Umemoto company history]. </REF> The factory was completed in 1935 and was situated in Tokyo, Kameido.<REF> According to the [http://umemoto.ecnet.jp/corp2/corp2.htm Umemoto company history], the address was Tōkyō-shi Jōtō-ku Kameido-machi 3-chōme 84-banchi (東京市城東区亀戸町三丁目八四番地) before the war. </REF> |
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| + | Before the war, the company made the [[Super Makinet Six|Super Makinet Six and Neure Six]] 6×6 strut-folders and the [[Super Flex Baby]] 4×4 [[SLR]], which was the first Japanese roll-film SLR. Most cameras made by the company were distributed by Kikōdō. The production of cameras was stopped in 1942 and the company was required to make military equipment. The Tokyo plant was burnt down in 1945 and the company moved to Yamagata between 1945 and 1948 before coming back to Tokyo, where a new factory was rebuilt on the same ground.<REF> [http://umemoto.ecnet.jp/corp2/corp2.htm Umemoto company history]. The current address (2007) is Tōkyō-to Kōtō-ku Kameido 3–37–6 (東京都江東区亀戸三丁目37番地6号) according to the [http://umemoto.ecnet.jp/corp/corp.htm Umemoto corporate information]. </REF> | ||
After the war, the company briefly took the name '''Umemoto Kōki Seisakusho''' (梅本光機製作所, i.e. Umemoto Optical Works) and made one last attempt at camera production with the [[Rocky Semi]], but this was not a commercial success. | After the war, the company briefly took the name '''Umemoto Kōki Seisakusho''' (梅本光機製作所, i.e. Umemoto Optical Works) and made one last attempt at camera production with the [[Rocky Semi]], but this was not a commercial success. | ||
| − | The company became '''Yūgen-gaisha Umemoto Seisakusho''' (有限会社梅本製作所) in 1962. It still (2007) exists and makes photography-related parts, like tripod heads for [[Kenko]]. | + | The company became '''Yūgen-gaisha Umemoto Seisakusho''' (有限会社梅本製作所) in 1962.<REF> [http://umemoto.ecnet.jp/corp/corp.htm Umemoto corporate information]. </REF> It still (2007) exists and makes photography-related parts, like tripod heads for [[Kenko]]. |
== Camera list == | == Camera list == | ||
Revision as of 14:39, 13 February 2007
Umemoto Seisakusho (梅本製作所, i.e. Umemoto Works) is a Japanese company, founded in 1935 by Umemoto Kinzaburō (梅本金三郎).
The founder had already installed a small plant in Yodogawa in 1931, where he was acting as a subcontractor for his former employer.[1] In 1932, he was asked by the distributor Kikōdō to set up a camera plant.[2] The factory was completed in 1935 and was situated in Tokyo, Kameido.[3]
Before the war, the company made the Super Makinet Six and Neure Six 6×6 strut-folders and the Super Flex Baby 4×4 SLR, which was the first Japanese roll-film SLR. Most cameras made by the company were distributed by Kikōdō. The production of cameras was stopped in 1942 and the company was required to make military equipment. The Tokyo plant was burnt down in 1945 and the company moved to Yamagata between 1945 and 1948 before coming back to Tokyo, where a new factory was rebuilt on the same ground.[4]
After the war, the company briefly took the name Umemoto Kōki Seisakusho (梅本光機製作所, i.e. Umemoto Optical Works) and made one last attempt at camera production with the Rocky Semi, but this was not a commercial success.
The company became Yūgen-gaisha Umemoto Seisakusho (有限会社梅本製作所) in 1962.[5] It still (2007) exists and makes photography-related parts, like tripod heads for Kenko.
Camera list
- Super Makinet Six 6×6 strut-folder (1936–9)
- Neure Six 6×6 strut-folder (1937)
- Super Flex Baby 4×4 SLR (1938–42)
- Semi Makinet 4.5×6 folder (1943, perhaps never completed)
- Rocky Semi 4.5×6 folder (1954)
Notes
- ↑ According to the Umemoto company history, the address was Tōkyō-shi Honjo-ku Yokogawa (東京市本所区横川).
- ↑ Umemoto company history.
- ↑ According to the Umemoto company history, the address was Tōkyō-shi Jōtō-ku Kameido-machi 3-chōme 84-banchi (東京市城東区亀戸町三丁目八四番地) before the war.
- ↑ Umemoto company history. The current address (2007) is Tōkyō-to Kōtō-ku Kameido 3–37–6 (東京都江東区亀戸三丁目37番地6号) according to the Umemoto corporate information.
- ↑ Umemoto corporate information.
Links
In Japanese:
- Company history at the Umemoto official website, the page is written by Umemoto Akio (grandson of the founder Umemoto Kinzaburō) and is highly informative
| Umemoto cameras | ||
|---|---|---|
| 6×6 strut folders | 4×4 SLR | 4.5×6 folder |
| Super Makinet Six | Neure Six | Super Flex Baby | Semi Makinet | Rocky Semi |
