shiroaiko

This is an article from " Glass World " magazine, 1932 Nov. issue. It describes "Naoyuki Seike's glass marbles" (硝子マーブル　清家直行) were viewed by the emperor at Osaka Prefectural Trade Hall on 15 Nov. 1932.　"天覧硝子製品"　means glass products which were viewed by the emperor.

I was trying to figure out what was mentioned in the certificates, and I could read the half of one. Commemorative Certificate/紀念状 Naoyuki Seike/清家直行 His Majesty the Emperor/天皇陛下 At the Osaka Prefectural Trade Hall/大阪府立貿易館ニ於イテ天覧 This certificate is presented as a memento/本状　紀念トス Showa 7 (1932)/昭和七年 Governor of Osaka Prefecture/大阪府知事 I could recognize the words written on the certificate, because of the 1932 "Glass World or Garasu-kai" magazine, November issue. The article describes that ”Naoyuki Seike’s glass marbles” （硝子マーブル　清家直行） were among "the glass products viewed by His Majesty the Emperor" (天覧硝子製品） at the Osaka Prefectural Trade Hall.

You're welcome. Have you checked my recent post of Duck marble advertisement already? Seike's marbles were of Duck brand, although it is likely he only started to use the band name after the war. One page of the brochures got pictures of 4 awards. The contents of "Awards" might have something to do with them... "Awards: Honored by an Imperial Viewing, Two Patents, Granted an Invention Encouragement Prize/受賞　賜天覧光栄　特許二件　発明奨励金下附"　

LevvyPoole, thanks for letting me know! The green is really intense...as akroorka says, this is a batch glass marble which was made from raw ingredients using a factory's own recipe. Seike made his own glass and his transitionals are crease pontils. I searched for mine and found an example using intense blue. Seike was not only engaged in the production of marbles but also conducted research on glass, glass-melting furnaces, and marble making equipment. ”大日本産業録　Dai Nippon Sangyō Roku (Great Japan Industrial Record)”, compiled by the East Asia Industrial Promotion Association, published by Kōshinsha, 1938. Manufacture and Sale of Glass Marbles for Export / 輸出向硝子マーブル製造販売 Research and Manufacture of High-Quality Glass / 高級ガラスの研究並び製造 Design and Construction of Patented Seike-Style Glass Furnaces / 特許清家式硝子窯設計築造 Seike Hard Glass Research Institute, Naoyuki Seike / 清家硬硝研究所　清家直行 779-5 Hanaten-chō, Asahi-ku, Osaka City / 大阪市旭区放出町七七九ノ五 Telephone: 2801 Telegraphic Code: (Se) or (Seike) / 電話二八〇一番　電略（セ）又は（セイケ） Chief of the factory: Shuichi Utsunomiya / 主任　宇都宮　修一 Employees: 45, Place of Origin: Ehime Prefecture / 従業員45名　出身地　愛媛県 Founded in Taishō 13 (1924) / 創業　大正十三年　 Bank: Sanwa Namazue Branch / 銀行　三和鯰江支店　 Awards: Honored by an Imperial Viewing, Two Patents, Granted an Invention Encouragement Prize/受賞　賜天覧光栄　特許二件　発明奨励金下附　 Branch: 4 Isobe-dori, Kobe City / 支店　神戸市磯邉通四 Factory: Same Location (in Hanaten), 5 Horsepower / 工場　同所　動力五馬力

For me, your country was like a treasure box... of old Japanese marbles that we couldn't find in such a huge amount. I live in Yamagata, a small northern town, where marble finds are so less. I love English wisplers from my heart.

You are welcome. I also learn a lot from your research! I have a pile of marble documents in my room... So many to be translated, but unlike years ago, now I can use chatGPT for translating, so things are a lot easier.

Thank you, Levvy Poole! Information on London Docklands is totally new to me! The trading port in the UK would be "London (Docklands)", as Seike himself mentioned the port name in the "Kagaku to Kogyo" magazine in 1937. "Kagaku to Kogyo" or "Science and Industry" Vol. 12, No. 12, edited by the Science and Industry Editorial Committee, Osaka Industrial Research Association, December 1937 私の方で始めたのは大正十三年で I began manufacturing marbles in 1924 (Taishō 13), 當時はアメリカと濠州へ少し輸出されましたが and at that time, we exported a small quantity to the United States and Australia. 現在ではアメリカ、カナダ、中南米等へ、 Today, our marbles are shipped to the United States, Canada, Central and South America, 又一番大量に行くのはロンドンで年々増加しでゐますが and increasingly to London, which has become our largest export destination, 今年は十七萬円位と思ひます。 with annual shipments reaching approximately 170,000 yen this year. 次に印度、南洋、濠洲など殆ど全世界に行き In addition, we now export to nearly every part of the world, including India, Southeast Asia, and Australia, ドイツ、ロシアを除く他至る處へ出てゐます。 everywhere except Germany and Russia. =================== I also find some names of trading companies in London; Cowan de Groot Ltd. for Codeg and Grahams Bros. for Fairylite. They are thought to be the companies which dealt Seike's marbles. "Ministry of Foreign Affairs Trade Bureau Daily Report No. 286", Ministry of Foreign Affairs Trade Bureau, 1935. British Trading Firms Related to Japan. "Directory of Overseas Importers, 1936 Edition" Edited by Osaka Prefectural Trade Hall, 1936.

Sorry, I need to add some explanation to the two patent drawings. "A semi-automatic making process in the time of company’s founding" appears to correspond to the marble machine patented as Utility Model No. 12628 in 1928 (Showa 3) by Naoyuki Seike. Before 1933 Seike's marble rolls had parallel grooves instead of spiral grooves. For that reason, Seike's marble rolls had a two-tier structure here. The marble gobs, which were roughly rounded by the upper marble rolls, dropped to the lower marble rolls, where they were perfectly shaped into spheres. Also the angle of the scissors tells us the marble machine is not for making machinemades but transitionals. "An automatic making process in 1932" appears to correspond to the marbles rolls patented as Utility Model No.1670 in 1931 (Showa 6). The Utility Model patent was filed in September of 1930 and was published in February of the following year. Here, three parallel rolls were used per tier, and the structure consisted of 4 stacked tiers. The scissor blades were indicated by 1 in the drawing.

硝子マーブル玉の生ひ立ち墨記 On the origins and development of glass marble industry 世界で一番初めに硝子マーブル玉の製造を創作したのは米国でありまして、約50年前と推定されます。 The first country in the world to develop and manufacture glass marbles was the United States, an innovation estimated to have taken place approximately 50 years ago. 次は日本、獨逸がこれに次ぐ生産国でありまして今日尚、他に見る可き生産国がありません。 Following the United States, Japan and Germany emerged as the next leading producers, and to this day, no other notable manufacturing countries have appeared. 我國では大正13年弊社社長清家直行の、写真にある様な半自動式機械発明に依って創業したのが創始であります。 In Japan, the industry's foundation was laid in 1924 (Taisho 13) when our company president, Naoyuki Seike, pioneered the use of a semi-automatic machine, as shown in the photograph. 開業二十七年、二十数件に及ぶ特許及び実用新案権を得て増産と品質の改良に努力した為、現在では米国品に劣らぬ自身と信用を得るに至りました。 Over the course of 27 years since its establishment, we have gained more than 20 patents and utility model rights, continuously striving to increase production and improve quality. As a result, we have now earned the confidence and reputation that our products are on par with those made in the United States. 製品の販路は戦前は勿論終戦後に於いても特殊国際関係国を除いては裏面市場分布図が示す様に全世界に及んで居ります。 Our products were distributed worldwide, as indicated in the market distribution map, not only before the war but also after the war, except in certain countries with special international relations.* 現在弊社の製造能力は月産四千万個でありまして、今尚品位の向上等に付いて大学出身の専門技術者が研究を重ねて居ります。 At present, our company has a manufacturing capacity of 40 million marbles per month. Furthermore, our team of university-trained specialists continues to conduct research aimed at enhancing product quality. * Japan’s “special relations countries” included Soviet Unions, North ＆ South Korea, the communist bloc countries of Eastern Europe, East Germany and China. Due to the lack of established diplomatic relations, trade with these nations were limited. However, unofficial trade was actively conducted through Hong Kong and Macau, allowing Japanese glass marbles to flow into China. Hong Kong also played a big part in distributing Japanese marbles to UK before 1954. This is when UK refused to import Japanese marbles with false most-favored-nation status via Hong Kong agents. 創業當時の半自動式製造実況 A semi-automatic making process in the time of company’s founding. 昭和七年當時の（全自動機）製造実況 An automatic making process in 1932 (Showa 7). The four certificates are too low in resolution to be read. What I can recognize is words like glass marbles and the name of Seike. Two appear to have been awarded by the Emperor. Below the certificates are the names of company executives: Managing Director Naoyuki Seike, Managing Director Narakichi Nakanishi, Managing Director Takashi Yanagawa, Auditor Naoko Seike. ＊ ＊Before the WW2, Seike, Nakanishi and Yanagawa ran their marble companies separately. The 3 businesses joined to form Nippon Special Glass Ball Mfg. Co. Ltd. in May 30 1942 (Showa 17). It was only one factory which was officially allowed to produce marbles during wartime. Other businesses like Isogami, Yasuda and Matsuno had to quit making marbles, and their patent rights and factory equipments were all transferred to the Nippon Special Glass Ball Mfg..

You are welcome! I'll post side B of the brochure today! Please take a look!

Hello, LevvyPoole and thanks akroorka for letting me know this post! The marbles look like pre-war machinemades except for a few transitionals. So they are like more than 80 years old. The maker is Naoyuki Seike and his brand is Duck Marble. He made his own colors in his factory in Hanaten, Osaka, and some colors are kind of unique. His transparent green often includes dark green bits. Opaque white melts in lower temperature than the base glass does, so it bleeds on the marble's surface. I'm happy to hear you like your marbles.

This is again a tri-fold brochure which was issued in 1951 by a marble company in Japan. The source is Yukoh Morito's "Biidama" 2003, p.29. I asked the author's wife, publisher, and Naoyuki Seike's family for a photo in higher resolution, but it was not available. Side A is divided into 3 parts: the titile page, a trade map and a marble photo from Life magazine. 1: The title page, The Origins and Development of the Glass Marble Industry, features a paper label from Duck Marble, which bears the JIS number Z6206 and the designation "Fine Quality." [] JIS Z6206 was assigned to Japanese glass marbles exported between December 1, 1950, and December 1, 1958. Inside the oval-shaped logo is an image of a duck, likely accompanied by the words "DUCK BRAND." Beneath the oval trademark, the words "TRADE MARK" are printed. Below the label, a company address is provided: Nippon Special Glass Ball Mfg. Co. LTD. 779-5 Hanaten-cho, Joto ward, Osaka city, Telephone: Joto (??) 2801 2: The Duck Brand Glass Marble's trade map If anyone can help me finding the port names on the map, it will be appreciated. FYI: In 1937 "Kagaku-to-Kogyo" magazine the company's managing director Naoyuki Seike explains his marbles go to most places in the world, except for a few countries like Russia and Germany. 3: A photograph from Life magazine "A scene of playing marbles" "featured from Life magazine July 1947 issue" Under the photo, "WITH BOOTS OFF: Walter Gowan of Hurts, Minot, takes aim. He played without boots as they scuffed ring." It is an article on a marbles tournament at Wildwood-by-the-Sea, New Jersey. Participants included Walter Gowan, Ophelia Graham, Ralph Brunty, and Benjamin Sklar.

We got some information from our National Diet Library and Patent Office (platpat). I also did some fieldwork in Osaka, which was the center of export marble production. I hope to spend more time here at Marble Connection sharing what I have learned.

The 1952 advertisement of Duck Marble from a Japanese marble book "Bi-dama" or "Marbles" by Yukoh MORITO, Bunkeido, Tokyo (2003). p. 29. Below is what the original text reads. Duck Marble The glass marble industry was originated in the United States, the date being believed to be 1900, Japan and Germany then followed suit. Even today the three counties are the only major producers. Our company stated this industry in 1924, employing a semi- automatic manufacturing process of our own invention. In the 28 years since, we have secured more than 20 patents for our product. During the interval, we have made expansion after expansion In our facilities and improvement after improvement in our product. Today our glass marbles go to a great many parts of the world, as you will see from the trade map. Our production today is 50,000,000 duck marbles a month. We are ready for greater production at any time. Our duck marbles are handled by every Japanese exporter. Samples will be gladly sent through any exporter to whom you may write. NIPPON SPECIAL GLASS BALL MFG. CO. LTD. N. Seike MANAGING DIRECTOR The three-fold brochure also has two photographs entitled "Packing sample"s and "A scene at our packing plant". Take a look and have fun.

Hi Aidan, the marble was a good buy! I'm happy for you.😃 Japanese marble collectors would immediately rush to the marble if it is at only 10 dollars. Normally they cost 5 times more... The marble in question is a lampworked marble which was probably made in Osaka. The glass is almost seedless and the color is good. The lampworker used glass rods which were supplied by a glass maker specializing in making rods and cullet for other fields of glass industry. The time period is late Meiji, Taisho or early Showa. Childhood labor was common at that time. They were made before the coming of transitionals and machine mades. To name the makers who made lamp-worked marbles for export at that time, they were Tokujiro Oi (Osaka), Wakamatsu Yoneda (Osaka) and Hanshichi Kamei (Kyoto). Domination of Japanese marbles in Asian countries continued until 1954 when Hong Kong started marble production.

A recent Mercari (Japanese online market) find of flat marbles which were filled in a Santa Claus box. The image of Santa is a bit different from the examples that have been reported to us so far. This Santa got blue eyes. The box was sold to a current owner about half a year ago. I was lucky enough to get the screenshots, reach the owner and the seller. The seller, a toy collector, listed the box at an inexpensive price. He didn't know the box to be rare. The Santa Claus box is not originally prepared for domestic market. JIS number Z6206 means a Japanese export from 1950 Dec to 1953 Nov.. My guess is Yasuda got many unused Santa boxes which were already glued with Z6206 labels even after Z6206 expired. He filled the boxes with flat marbles and sent them to domestic market via wholesalers. The seller described the box to be from "Showa 30's" which means 1955 to 1964. 1952 National Factory Registry says that Yasuda Export Glass Marble Factory made flat marbles along with nishiki-dama (cat's eyes).

Hi Aidan, I would love to see yours too!

There is a report being titled "大阪府に於ける中小工業の整備：大阪府下中小企業整備実情調査報告" published by The Osaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry, in 1943 (Showa18). The report can be reached at https://dl.ndl.go.jp/ja/pid/1058348. The marble part is pp. 75-78. A reference to the July 1941 date is written there. The long title would be translated like this; " The Industrial Readjustment for Small and Medium-Sized Businesses in Osaka; The Fact-Finding Report on the Industrial Readjustment for Small and Medium-sized Businesses Under Osaka Prefecture". Although the title doesn't sound exciting, what it tells would be full of excitements to marble fans. It even talks about the number of marble rolls in Osaka (and Hyogo). Only 3 were in use during the wartime, with other 9 being kept in a storage for the future operation. Other 12 machines had been scrapped by the government. Japan had been suffered from shortages of metals. A joint company of Seike, Nakanishi and Yanagawa was the only one marble factory which was officially approved its operation then.

I'm sorry. The last 3 pictures are not fitting the context. I don't completely understand the photo uploading system here, being a new comer. Those 3 were excluded, since I thought the total file size exceeds the limit.

Sorry that I step in... the half & half marble in brown-amber and white marble is Seike's. Naoyuki SEIKE applied for Showa6-1756 Glass Crucible in Sep. 1930. The patent article can be seen at https://www.j-platpat.inpit.go.jp/c1801/PU/JP-S06-001756/22/ja It was an automatic marble making device which made dual color marbles. Although the crucible got only one air pressure bulb here, Seike soon made a change so that each color being separated in the crucible could be controlled by the air pressure system individually as it flows from the bottom outlet. (Showa6-3939 application date on Nov. 1930 https://www.j-platpat.inpit.go.jp/c1801/PU/JP-S06-003939/22/ja) These half & halves are sourced from UK and Japan. UK was the largest customer of prewar Seike marbles. He also exported many crease pontil transitionals. Below are half & halves and their variations. I hope this helps understand the early machinemades that he made. Mushrooms in puzzle boxes are also made by Seike (but I only have a few examples).

Opaque white ribbons tend to bleed on Figure8s... lower melting temperature...also white bits are included in the white. Most of Seike's color glass is original unlike other makers. I also love submerged ribbon types ziggyzora pointed out. .

That is special! Thank you!

I would say they are prewar marbles made by Naoyuki SEIKE. Naoyuki started his marble factory in Hanaten, Osaka, in 1924, inventing a unique marble machine (a flop). A few months later he finally managed to make a proper working machine and his first marbles were exported to the US and Canada. Machinemade production began after Showa 6-2564 patent (applied in Aug. 1930). Yet transitionals still needed to be produced, because he couldn't make machinemades which were looking alike transitionals. Showa15-8254 (applied on Nov. 1938) and Showa15-5933 (applied in Mar. 1939) were attempts to make spiral patterns on machinemades, which I doubt if they were successful. Ukichi ISOGAMI also tried to make spiral machinemades in Showa12-1333 patent (applied in Nov. 1935). No transitionals after the war because everyone went for exporting cat's eyes. Isogami's patents (Showa14-11324 & Showa14-6821) were no longer valid then.

Many thanks for the greetings in my language! 😃

The author Nobuo KUMAGAI was born in Osaka in 1948. As a child, he used to play with tin toys. Years later when he started his career in 1971, he opened a curio shop where people could buy tin toys. The shop was located in Umeda, Osaka, at the very heart of the city. His love of tin toys continued to grow and he published the first history book on the specific area in 1979. The book’s contribution to the world of the hobby was big; the number of fans greatly increased, and the hobby of tin toys gained social recognition. It was 1980 that he moved all of his tin toys to Shinsai-bashi, Osaka, where he opened another shop in his own building. The shop was known to be the first specialty shop for vintage tin toys in Osaka. Mr. Kumagai also opened a private museum/gallery in the same building where we can visit and enjoy his collection. This place is called "Osaka Tin Toy Institute". The first generation of matured collectors in tin toys appeared in the late 60s, he recalls. When he started his first shop in Umeda, the market was rather small. As time went by, the number of the fans was on the rise. Rare and old tin toys became out of reach due to the overpricing caused by the shortage. Mr. Kumagai and his peer enthusiasts wanted to share fun of the hobby more with younger generations. The first tin toy reproduction was done by BILIKEN SHOKAI in 1988. The 2nd was the project of Kumagai and Metal House (Katsumasa MIYAZAWA) which started to sell reproductions of the tin toy Golden Era and original toys such as C3PO, R2D2, Darth Vader (Star Wars Series) and Robby the Robot. Japan had 30 years of reproduction projects under the cooperations of various toy makers, factories and enthusiasts. Tin toy production was only possible by a network of factories such as component manufacturers, printing companies, mold makers, and the like. It operated as a system of divided labor. As the 21st century began, many businesses closed down due to retirements and a shortage of successors. Miyazawa made every effort to sustain the manufacturing environment for the production by acquiring equipment from businesses closing down, but the company finally ceased operations in 2017. This was the very end of the reproduction era. The 2023 book is a compilation of the researches the author undertook over 50 years. The book is fascinating...featuring more than 1000 of great photographs. For each photo, specification is provided with English subtitles. Sales of books for collectors abroad will be ordered via Mr. Takashi MORITA at Vintage Gate gallery. For international inquiries, please contact：[email protected] These photos are for marble forums from Mr. Kumagai. I was excited to see the planes...I just love old toys...They show the correspondence of "foreign" and "made in Japan". We don't know who first suggested the use of "foreign" to the Japanese makers. Also "foreign" was used for German products which were intended to be sold in UK, but not for Dutch produce since they were in the side of the Allies.