shiroaiko

Seike's cat’s eyes in different colors. . The yellow is like neon yellow. I enjoyed taking pictures of white-purple variants. I was fascinated by the shifts of colors. Some fracture. Bigger vanes always have the risk, when the colors are not compatible enough. I guess no marble makers put them in an oven for annealing.

Yes, we are thankful for the story and the marbles Reiko shared with us. I think the variety of marbles convey the passion Naoyuki had about marbles. He loved experiments. Did you know? The purple ribbon marble which caught your eyes also appears in Ziggysora's 2012 post at AAM, "Japan striped vintage marbles, Figure 8". All the color varieties are included in the marbles from the family.

Happy to hear that you got Naoyuki Seike's marbles! Is Canada the source of your marbles? When I posted the marbles from the Seike family first in AAM, no one knew his marbles. Later Elizabeth A. Kempski got a Duck Agate box from Australia.

Marbles with orange vanes. Some ribbed vanes count 12. A group of three. A combination of thick vanes (opaque orange) and wispy structure (transparent orange). Another group of 6 marbles in orange. Some got tinted base glass. One big vane in the center. One submerged ribbon. One marble has a big spidery cutline. Others got smooth ones which are not noticeable.

My interest in Duck Marbles started from the brochures illustrated in “Marbles/Biidama” (2003) by Yukoh Morito, a well-known marble collector in my country who passed away in 2016. In 1992 he founded Japan Marble Association, making a partnership with this forum and Marble Collectors Society of America in the following year. His book “Marbles” features a Japanese marble history section for two pages. On page 29 is where we find the brochures of Nippon Special Glass Ball Mfg. Co. Ltd.. The company’s brand was Duck Marbles. According to the brochures, the company started its business in Hanaten, Osaka city in 1924. The founder, Naoyuki SEIKE, says he and his team of college graduated engineers invented a semi-automatic manufacturing process for marble making at that time. He also refers to American invention of marble machines in 1900 ca.. The brochure in Japanese was printed in 1951, whereas the English version was published in 1952. He had obtained more than 20 patents and utility model rights from Japan Patent Office. The monthly marble production reached 50,000,000 in 1952. (but the monthly production in 1951 was 400,000.) The original brochures were contributed by Seishin Seike, the second son of Naoyuki Seike, to the book. The surname Seike is nothing like Suzuki (mine). Also the first name Seishin is very uncommon. I saw a light of hope in this fact and started a search for the contact information of the same name person. I reached his wife Reiko (85), in Hirakata city, Osaka on 7 Dec. 2021. Below is what I learned from the lady on the phone. Naoyuki Seike, her father-in-law, ran a marble factory in Hanaten and that he made marbles was true. But it was a long time before her marriage that Naoyuki's business had ended and went bankruptcy. Reiko married to Seishin in 1960, a union arranged by her senior brother who worked as a surgeon in Maizuru, Kyoto. Seishin was the second son of Naoyuki. When they met, Seishin was not young (30). He had already been working for Zojirushi Magic Pot company in Hanaten as an engineer, where he led his team to a success of the first electric rice cooker. After 3 years of their marriage, in 1963, Naoyuki passed away at the age over 90. Before his death each of his children was given a bucketful of glass marbles he had kept. His 3 boys were all engineers including one who died very early in his late teens or 20’s. He was the first son who died in an accident where he fell from the marble factory’s roof during a repair. Sadly, Seishin passed away more than 10 years ago. Reiko kept the bucket since then. She assured that the marbles she had now in her apartment were originally inherited from her father-in-law. She washed the marbles and sent half the bucket to me. I opened a box full of marbles at night on 10 Dec.

davesnothere, opinions are welcomed. I understand your point that we should be cautious...yet the box was sold at 2390 Japanese yen, approximately 16 US dollars. I wonder what is the point of selling a box at such a low price, if someone wanted to make money out of a fake box. Something I felt interesting is the changing images of Santa Claus. 1929 (Showa 4) registered trademark publication by Ukichi Yasuda. The address is Sakai-city, Osaka. The main product of Yasuda at that time was glass bangles for Indian market. I don't know if Yasuda made glass marbles then for sure. A pre-war Santa Claus box exported to India. The address is Shiba, Amami-mura, Osaka, where Yasuda's marble factory was in operation from 1933 (Showa 8). Ukichi Yasuda had to stop producing marbles due to the war, and in 1944 (Showa 19) the factory was sold to the current owner. From "Record of Manchuria-China Industrial Development: Commemorative Issue for North China Development", 1938 (Showa 13). Ukichi Yasuda has two factory addresses; the one in Shiba, Amami-mura and the one in Hanyu-mura (both locations are in Osaka.) I could not locate the address in Hanyu-mura. Reapplication of the registered trademark by Ai Yasuda, 1949 (Showa 24). The address is Tamate, Kokubu-cho, Osaka. Ai is a female name. The UY is still seen on the Santa's clothes. The blue-eyed Santa Claus from the ohajiki box. JIS Z6206 means Japanese export from 1950 Dec. to 1953 Nov.. JIS S4004 means Japanese export from 1953 Dec. to 1962 Feb.. A cat's eye box that E. A. Kempski owns.

Thank you Ric, for a big encouragement. I will post the original marbles photos from the Seike family soon. I reached Reiko Seike, a wife of Naoyuki's second son in 2021 Dec., and Reiko shared some marbles with me.

Thinking of the time and my culture, the viewing was really something. Seike must have been very honored with it!

Thanks for the kind words! My username doesn’t actually mean anything specific—it’s just a combination of my first cat’s name and my own. Glad you enjoyed the post❤️

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.