Ginrei
From Camerapedia.org
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| G.R.C. logo, on the original box for the Vester Box film processing tank. Picture courtesy of eBayer Lynn2louise. (Image rights) |
Ginrei was a Japanese camera maker active from the 1930s to the 1950s.
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History
In 1934, the full name of the company was Ginrei Shashin Kōgyō-sho (銀鈴写真工業所), and its address was Honjo-ku Azumabashi 2 (本所区吾妻橋二丁目) in Tokyo.[1] In 1936, it was also using the name G.R.C. Gōmei-gaisha (G.R.C.合名会社),[2] and it was making the Vester Klapp (a copy of the 6.5×9 Ernemann Klapp) and the Seves 4.5×6 folder. The company was making its own Vester shutters and Vengor or Venner lenses. It used the brand name "Vester" for various products, and also made the Clover-Six and Semi Clover distributed by Hagi Kōgyō Bōeki.[3] The company name appears as GRC Co on early shutter markings, up to the late 1930s, and as GINREI KOHKI associated with a round GRC logo on later markings. In 1943–4, the full name of the company was Ginrei Kōki Gōshi-gaisha (銀鈴光機㈾), and its address was Honjo-ku Azumabashi (本所区吾妻橋) 2–3 in Tokyo.[4]
The company either survived the war or was reformed at some time. It used the English names GINREI. CO. or GINREI OPTICAL CO. on camera markings, and was still using the acronym G.R.C. It made the Vesta "Hit-type" 17.5mm camera soon after the war, then the Vesterflex 6×6 pseudo TLR in 1953. All trace is lost after 1954.
Camera list
Plate film
- Vester Klapp (6.5×9 strut folder)
120 film
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| Semi Clover | Clover Six |
- Seves (4.5×6 strut folder)
- Vester-Lette (4.5×6 folder, attribution probable)
- Semi Clover (4.5×6 folder)
- Clover-Six (6×6 folder)
- Vester-Six (6×6 folder)
- Vesterflex (6×6 pseudo-TLR)
The Topflex and Honestflex name variants of the Vesterflex were certainly made by Ginrei too.
17.5mm film
Other
- Vester Box film processing tank, available for 120 film or for 35mm film, and adapter for 127 film (1944)[5]
- Vestal tripods[6]
- Vester Meter exposure chart[7]
Notes
- ↑ Advertisement on p.10 of Nihon Shashin Kōgyō Tsūshin, May 10, 1934, reproduced on p.12 of Hyaku-gō goto jūkai no kiroku.
- ↑ Ginrei Shashin Kōgyō-sho: see the advertisement for the Vester Klapp dated May 1936 reproduced in Nostalgic Camera, a page by Toshio Inamura. G.R.C. Gōmei-gaisha: advertisements dated January, July and November 1936 reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, pp.77 and 92.
- ↑ "Manufacturer of Clover cameras" (クロバーカメラ製造元): advertisement on p.12 of Nihon Shashin Kōgyō Tsūshin, February 15, 1944, reproduced on p.76 of Hyaku-gō goto jūkai no kiroku.
- ↑ "Kokusan shashinki no genjōchōsa" ("Inquiry into Japanese cameras"), and advertisement on p.12 of Nihon Shashin Kōgyō Tsūshin, February 15, 1944, reproduced on p.76 of Hyaku-gō goto jūkai no kiroku.
- ↑ Advertisement on p.12 of Nihon Shashin Kōgyō Tsūshin, February 15, 1944, reproduced on p.76 of Hyaku-gō goto jūkai no kiroku.
- ↑ Advertisement on p.10 of Nihon Shashin Kōgyō Tsūshin, May 10, 1934, reproduced on p.12 of Hyaku-gō goto jūkai no kiroku.
- ↑ Advertisement on p.26 of Nihon Shashin Kōgyō Tsūshin, December 15, 1939, reproduced on p.60 of Hyaku-gō goto jūkai no kiroku.
Bibliography
- Asahi Camera (アサヒカメラ) editorial staff. Shōwa 10–40nen kōkoku ni miru kokusan kamera no rekishi (昭和10–40年広告にみる国産カメラの歴史, Japanese camera history as seen in advertisements, 1935–1965). Tokyo: Asahi Shinbunsha, 1994. ISBN 4-02-330312-7.
- "Kokusan shashinki no genjōchōsa" (国産写真機ノ現状調査, Inquiry into Japanese cameras), listing Japanese camera production as of April 1943. Reproduced in Supuringu kamera de ikou: Zen 69 kishu no shōkai to tsukaikata (スプリングカメラでいこう: 全69機種の紹介と使い方, Let's try spring cameras: Presentation and use of 69 machines). Tokyo: Shashinkogyo Syuppan-sha, 2004. ISBN 4-87956-072-3. Pp.180–7.
- 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).
- Nihon Shashin Kōgyō Tsūshin (日本写真興業通信). Hyaku-gō goto jūkai no kiroku (百号ごと十回の記録, Ten records, every hundred issues). Tokyo: Nihon Shashin Kōgyō Tsūshin Sha (日本写真興業通信社), 1967. No ISBN number. Advertisements on p.12, corresponding to p.10 of the May 10, 1934 issue, on p.60, corresponding to p.60 of the December 15, 1939 issue, and on p.76, corresponding to p.12 of the February 15, 1944 issue.
Links
In English:
In Japanese:
- Advertisement for the Vester Klapp dated May 1936 reproduced in Nostalgic Camera, a page by Toshio Inamura.
