Difference between revisions of "Yamashita"

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'''Yamashita Yūjirō Shōten''' (山下友治郎商店, meaning "Yamashita Yūjirō Trading") was a Japanese company based in Tokyo.<REF> Its address from 1937 to 1942 was Tōkyō-shi Kōjimachi-ku Kōjimachi 1&ndash;6 (東京市麴町区麴町一丁目六). Source: advertisements reproduced in {{Kokusan}}, pp.&nbsp;62, 74, 89&ndash;90, 92&ndash;3 and 106. </REF> Yamashita Yūjirō is a personal name, perhaps the name of the founder. It acted as authorized dealers for a variety of cameras and it also sold some cameras under its own name, among which the [[Sun Stereo]], a stereo box camera that it perhaps manufactured itself.
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'''Yamashita Yūjirō Shōten,''' later '''Chūō Shashin-yōhin,''' was a Japanese distributor.
  
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It was the distributed of the [[Rondo]] photographic products and used the Rondo logo on advertisements dated 1939 to 1942.<REF> Advertisements reproduced in {{Kokusan}}, pp.&nbsp;89, 93 and 106, [http://syasinsyuu.cool.ne.jp/camera/Bo1.jpg advertisement] reproduced in the [http://kyoto.cool.ne.jp/syasinsyuu/index.htm Gochamaze website] and [http://www.remus.dti.ne.jp/~inasan99/camera/b_camera/cm02_41_l.jpg advertisement] reproduced in [http://www.remus.dti.ne.jp/~inasan99/camera/nostalgic_camera.html Nostalgic Camera] by Toshio Inamura. </REF> It also sold a variant of the [[Tsubasa Super Semi]] called [[Tsubasa Super Semi|Rondex]].<REF> {{Kokusan}}, p.&nbsp;344. </REF>
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== History ==
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=== Prewar and wartime period ===
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The company '''Yamashita Yūjirō Shōten''' (山下友治郎商店, meaning "Yamashita Yūjirō Trading") was based in Tokyo.<REF> Its address from 1937 to 1942 was Tōkyō-shi Kōjimachi-ku Kōjimachi 1&ndash;6 (東京市麴町区麴町一丁目六). Source: advertisements reproduced in {{Kokusan}}, pp.&nbsp;62, 74, 89&ndash;90, 92&ndash;3 and 106. </REF> Yamashita Yūjirō is a personal name, perhaps the name of the founder. The earliest document mentioning the company observed so far is dated April 1937,<REF> April 1937 advertisement for the [[Semi Proud (prewar)|Semi Proud]], reproduced in {{Kokusan}}, p.&nbsp;89. </REF> but the company was perhaps founded earlier: advertisements for the [[Sun Stereo]] dated 1935 are reported.<REF> {{Kokusan}}, p.&nbsp;337. </REF> The company name was sometimes given as '''Yamashita Shōten''' (山下商店, meaning Yamashita Trading), without the first name Yūjirō.<REF> Advertisement dated February 1942 reproduced in {{Kokusan}}, p.&nbsp;74. The [http://sts.kahaku.go.jp/sts/detail.php?id=1033&key=103310371079&APage=8 Shinkoflex page of the JCII collection] says Yamashita Shōkai (山下商会) by mistake. </REF> (The address is identical, confirming that it is the same company.)
  
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The company name became simply '''Yamashita Shōten'''<REF> Advertisement dated February 1942 reproduced in {{Kokusan}}, p.&nbsp;74. The [http://sts.kahaku.go.jp/sts/detail.php?id=1033&key=103310371079&APage=8 Shinkoflex page of the JCII collection] says Yamashita Shōkai (山下商会), probably by mistake. </REF> (山下商店, meaning Yamashita Trading), without the first name Yūjirō. The fact that it is the same company is confirmed by the common address. Under that name, it distributed products made by [[Shinkō Seiki|Shinkō]], among which the [[Shinkoflex]], the first Japanese 6&times;6 SLR.
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Yamashita acted as authorized dealers for a variety of cameras. It was the sole distributor of products made by [[Shinkō Seiki|Shinkō]], among which the [[Shinkoflex]], the first Japanese 6&times;6 SLR.
  
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== Distributed cameras ==
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The company certainly owned the brand name "Rondo", under which it sold a variety of photographic products. The Rondo logo is a man's silhouette, it appeared on advertisements dated 1939 to 1942.<REF> Advertisements reproduced in {{Kokusan}}, pp.&nbsp;89, 93 and 106, and [http://syasinsyuu.cool.ne.jp/camera/Bo1.jpg advertisements] reproduced in the [http://kyoto.cool.ne.jp/syasinsyuu/index.htm Gochamaze website] and [http://www.remus.dti.ne.jp/~inasan99/camera/b_camera/cm02_41_l.jpg advertisement] reproduced in [http://www.remus.dti.ne.jp/~inasan99/camera/nostalgic_camera.html Nostalgic Camera] by Toshio Inamura. </REF> It also sold a variant of the [[Tsubasa Super Semi]] under the name Rondex.<REF> Rondex distributed by Yamashita: {{Kokusan}}, p.&nbsp;344. </REF>
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Yamashita certainly also owned the brand name "Sun", and it sold the [[Sun Stereo]] camera and offered an auto stop advance retrofit for 4.5&times;6 folders, called "Sun film stop".
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=== Postwar period ===
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The company survived the war, and it was known as '''K.K. Yamashita Yūjirō Shōten''' ({{kabu}}山下友治郎商店) in early 1950.<REF> Advertisement dated February 1950 reproduced in {{Kokusan}}, p.&nbsp;180. </REF> It was still based in Tokyo but the address was different: it became Chiyoda-ku Kanda Ogawamachi (千代田区神田小川町) 3&ndash;8.<REF> Source: advertisements dated from 1950 to 1959 reproduced in {{Kokusan}}, pp.&nbsp;117, 138, 150, 180&ndash;1 and 281. </REF>
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The name of the company was changed to '''Chūō Shashin-yōhin K.K.''' (中央写真用品{{kabu}}) in March or April 1950.<REF> An advertisement dated April 1950, reproduced in {{Kokusan}}, p.&nbsp;180, says that Chūō Shashin-yōhin is the new name of Yamashita Yūjirō Shōten (山下友治郎商店改称). </REF> The English translation of the new name was '''Central Photo Supply Co., Ltd.'''<REF> English translation: advertisement reproduced in {{Kokusan}}, p.&nbsp;117. </REF> The company used the brand name Rondo again from 1951 to 1959.<REF> Advertisements reproduced in {{Kokusan}}, pp.&nbsp;117, 138, 150, 181 and 281. </REF> The most recent document mentioning the company observed so far is dated February 1959.<REF> February 1959 advertisement reproduced in {{Kokusan}}, p.&nbsp;281. </REF>
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== Cameras sold under a Yamashita brand ==
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* [[Sun Stereo]] (4.5&times;6 stereo box, 1935&ndash;7)
 
* [[Tsubasa Super Semi|Rondex]] (4.5&times;6 folder, name variant of the [[Tsubasa Super Semi]], 1940)
 
* [[Tsubasa Super Semi|Rondex]] (4.5&times;6 folder, name variant of the [[Tsubasa Super Semi]], 1940)
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== Cameras distributed by Yamashita ==
 
* [[Shinkoflex]] (6&times;6 SLR with focal plane shutter, 1940)
 
* [[Shinkoflex]] (6&times;6 SLR with focal plane shutter, 1940)
 
* [[Shinko Super]] (6&times;6 viewfinder with focal plane shutter, 1942)
 
* [[Shinko Super]] (6&times;6 viewfinder with focal plane shutter, 1942)
 
* [[Rorox|Shinko Baby]] (3&times;4 viewfinder)
 
* [[Rorox|Shinko Baby]] (3&times;4 viewfinder)
  
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== Cameras sold as authorized dealer ==
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== Cameras sold by Yamashita as authorized dealer ==
 
* [[Hansa Semi Rollette]] and [[Union Ref and Hansa Rollette Ref|Hansa Rollette Ref]] (1937)<REF> Extract of the catalogue of Yamashita Yūjirō Shōten dated April 20, 1937, reproduced in {{Kokusan}}, p.&nbsp;84. </REF>
 
* [[Hansa Semi Rollette]] and [[Union Ref and Hansa Rollette Ref|Hansa Rollette Ref]] (1937)<REF> Extract of the catalogue of Yamashita Yūjirō Shōten dated April 20, 1937, reproduced in {{Kokusan}}, p.&nbsp;84. </REF>
 
* [[Bakyna]] (1937)<REF> Extract of the catalogue of Yamashita Yūjirō Shōten dated April 20, 1937, reproduced in {{Kokusan}}, p.&nbsp;91. </REF>
 
* [[Bakyna]] (1937)<REF> Extract of the catalogue of Yamashita Yūjirō Shōten dated April 20, 1937, reproduced in {{Kokusan}}, p.&nbsp;91. </REF>
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* [[Bolty]] (1942)<REF> Advertisement reproduced in {{Kokusan}}, p.&nbsp;93. </REF>
 
* [[Bolty]] (1942)<REF> Advertisement reproduced in {{Kokusan}}, p.&nbsp;93. </REF>
 
* [[Zuiko|Enlarging Zuiko 50/4.5]]<REF> [http://www.remus.dti.ne.jp/~inasan99/camera/b_camera/cm02_41_l.jpg Advertisement] reproduced in [http://www.remus.dti.ne.jp/~inasan99/camera/nostalgic_camera.html Nostalgic Camera] by Toshio Inamura. </REF>
 
* [[Zuiko|Enlarging Zuiko 50/4.5]]<REF> [http://www.remus.dti.ne.jp/~inasan99/camera/b_camera/cm02_41_l.jpg Advertisement] reproduced in [http://www.remus.dti.ne.jp/~inasan99/camera/nostalgic_camera.html Nostalgic Camera] by Toshio Inamura. </REF>
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== Cameras distributed by Chūō ==
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=== 35mm film ===
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* [[Sunny]] (24&times;24mm, 1951)
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* [[Aruba 35]] (24&times;24mm, 1953)
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* [[Aruba 35|Aruba 35 II]] (24&times;36mm, 1953)
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{{McKeown}} attributes the [[Wacoh A]] to Chūō. This camera was actually made by [[National Kōgaku]] but it was perhaps distributed by the company.
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=== 120 film ===
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* [[Dox]] (6&times;9cm box, 1951&ndash;2)
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* [[Dox|Dox New Six]] (6&times;6cm box, 1951&ndash;2)
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* [[Ponix]] (6&times;6cm viewfinder, 1954&ndash;7)
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* [[Ponix|Ponix Junior]] (6&times;6cm viewfinder, 1957&ndash;9)
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* [[Ponix|Super Ponix]] (6&times;6cm viewfinder, 1958)
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* [[Ponix|Ponix assembly set]] (6&times;6cm viewfinder, 1958&ndash;9)
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* [[Shumy and Harmony|Shumy]] (6&times;6cm viewfinder, also sold as the Flashline)
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* [[Shumy and Harmony|Harmony]] (6&times;6cm viewfinder)
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[http://www.ajcc.gr.jp/sub1.24.htm This page of the AJCC website] attributes the [[Semi Dak]] to Chūō but other sources attribute it to Asahi Shōten (朝日商店).<REF> Asahi Shōten: Sugiyama, item 4175; {{Kokusan}}, p.&nbsp;354. </REF>
  
 
== Other ==
 
== Other ==
 
* Shinko enlarger (1942)
 
* Shinko enlarger (1942)
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* Center enlarger (1951)
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* Minicam copy kit, a repro stand for [[Leica]] and [[Canon]] rangefinder cameras (1951)
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* [[Rondo]] viewer (1952)
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* Enlarger meter (1952)
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* various [[Rondo]] accessories (around 1957&ndash;9)
  
 
== Notes ==
 
== Notes ==
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== Links ==
 
== Links ==
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* [http://sts.kahaku.go.jp/sts/detail.php?id=1033&key=103310371058&APage=6 Sun Stereo] in the [http://sts.kahaku.go.jp/sts/set_brws_01.php?id=1033 Camera database] of the [http://sts.kahaku.go.jp/ Center of the History of Japanese Industrial Technology]
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In Japanese:
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* [http://syasinsyuu.cool.ne.jp/camera/Bo1.jpg Advertisements for the Boltax] showing the Rondo logo, published in the 8 March and 15 November 1939 and 4 September 1940 issues of ''[[Asahi Graph]]'' and reproduced in the [http://syasinsyuu.cool.ne.jp/camera/syasinki-v.htm small format camera page] of the [http://kyoto.cool.ne.jp/syasinsyuu/index.htm Gochamaze website]
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* [http://www.remus.dti.ne.jp/~inasan99/camera/b_camera/cm02_41_l.jpg Advertisement for the enlarging Zuiko 50/4.5] showing the Rondo logo, published in 1941 and reproduced in [http://www.remus.dti.ne.jp/~inasan99/camera/nostalgic_camera.html Nostalgic Camera], a page by Toshio Inamura
  
 
[[Category: Japanese distributors]]
 
[[Category: Japanese distributors]]

Revision as of 12:35, 8 May 2007

Yamashita Yūjirō Shōten, later Chūō Shashin-yōhin, was a Japanese distributor.

History

Prewar and wartime period

The company Yamashita Yūjirō Shōten (山下友治郎商店, meaning "Yamashita Yūjirō Trading") was based in Tokyo.[1] Yamashita Yūjirō is a personal name, perhaps the name of the founder. The earliest document mentioning the company observed so far is dated April 1937,[2] but the company was perhaps founded earlier: advertisements for the Sun Stereo dated 1935 are reported.[3] The company name was sometimes given as Yamashita Shōten (山下商店, meaning Yamashita Trading), without the first name Yūjirō.[4] (The address is identical, confirming that it is the same company.)

Yamashita acted as authorized dealers for a variety of cameras. It was the sole distributor of products made by Shinkō, among which the Shinkoflex, the first Japanese 6×6 SLR.

The company certainly owned the brand name "Rondo", under which it sold a variety of photographic products. The Rondo logo is a man's silhouette, it appeared on advertisements dated 1939 to 1942.[5] It also sold a variant of the Tsubasa Super Semi under the name Rondex.[6]

Yamashita certainly also owned the brand name "Sun", and it sold the Sun Stereo camera and offered an auto stop advance retrofit for 4.5×6 folders, called "Sun film stop".

Postwar period

The company survived the war, and it was known as K.K. Yamashita Yūjirō Shōten (㈱山下友治郎商店) in early 1950.[7] It was still based in Tokyo but the address was different: it became Chiyoda-ku Kanda Ogawamachi (千代田区神田小川町) 3–8.[8]

The name of the company was changed to Chūō Shashin-yōhin K.K. (中央写真用品㈱) in March or April 1950.[9] The English translation of the new name was Central Photo Supply Co., Ltd.[10] The company used the brand name Rondo again from 1951 to 1959.[11] The most recent document mentioning the company observed so far is dated February 1959.[12]

Cameras sold under a Yamashita brand

Cameras distributed by Yamashita

Cameras sold by Yamashita as authorized dealer

Cameras distributed by Chūō

35mm film

McKeown attributes the Wacoh A to Chūō. This camera was actually made by National Kōgaku but it was perhaps distributed by the company.

120 film

This page of the AJCC website attributes the Semi Dak to Chūō but other sources attribute it to Asahi Shōten (朝日商店).[24]

Other

  • Shinko enlarger (1942)
  • Center enlarger (1951)
  • Minicam copy kit, a repro stand for Leica and Canon rangefinder cameras (1951)
  • Rondo viewer (1952)
  • Enlarger meter (1952)
  • various Rondo accessories (around 1957–9)

Notes

  1. ↑ Its address from 1937 to 1942 was Tōkyō-shi Kōjimachi-ku Kōjimachi 1–6 (東京市麴町区麴町一丁目六). Source: advertisements reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, pp. 62, 74, 89–90, 92–3 and 106.
  2. ↑ April 1937 advertisement for the Semi Proud, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 89.
  3. ↑ Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 337.
  4. ↑ Advertisement dated February 1942 reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 74. The Shinkoflex page of the JCII collection says Yamashita Shōkai (山下商会) by mistake.
  5. ↑ Advertisements reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, pp. 89, 93 and 106, and advertisements reproduced in the Gochamaze website and advertisement reproduced in Nostalgic Camera by Toshio Inamura.
  6. ↑ Rondex distributed by Yamashita: Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 344.
  7. ↑ Advertisement dated February 1950 reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 180.
  8. ↑ Source: advertisements dated from 1950 to 1959 reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, pp. 117, 138, 150, 180–1 and 281.
  9. ↑ An advertisement dated April 1950, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 180, says that Chūō Shashin-yōhin is the new name of Yamashita Yūjirō Shōten (山下友治郎商店改称).
  10. ↑ English translation: advertisement reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 117.
  11. ↑ Advertisements reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, pp. 117, 138, 150, 181 and 281.
  12. ↑ February 1959 advertisement reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 281.
  13. ↑ Extract of the catalogue of Yamashita Yūjirō Shōten dated April 20, 1937, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 84.
  14. ↑ Extract of the catalogue of Yamashita Yūjirō Shōten dated April 20, 1937, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 91.
  15. ↑ Advertisements reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 62.
  16. ↑ Advertisements reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, pp. 78–9.
  17. ↑ Advertisements reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, pp. 89–90.
  18. ↑ Advertisement reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 90.
  19. ↑ Advertisements reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, pp. 89 and 106.
  20. ↑ Advertisement reproduced in Awano, p. 10 of Camera Collectors' News no. 332.
  21. ↑ Advertisements reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, pp. 89, 92–3 and 106, and in Awano, p. 10 of Camera Collectors' News no. 332.
  22. ↑ Advertisement reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 93.
  23. ↑ Advertisement reproduced in Nostalgic Camera by Toshio Inamura.
  24. ↑ Asahi Shōten: Sugiyama, item 4175; Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 354.

Bibliography

Links

In Japanese:

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