1951 Duck Marble advertisement for domestic market (Side A)

[shiroaiko]

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.

[akroorka]

10 hours ago, shiroaiko said:

He played without boots as they scuffed ring."

Great stuff here shiroaiko!

Thanks for sharing!

Marble--On!!

[shiroaiko]

6 hours ago, akroorka said:

Great stuff here shiroaiko!

Thanks for sharing!

Marble--On!!

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

 

[LevvyPoole]

Regarding the trade ports for UK, Im thinking London Docklands? Definitely not something I know much about though. Other possible contenders would maybe be Felixstowe or Plymouth. 

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/London_Docklands

[shiroaiko]

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.

 

 

[akroorka]

Thanks for the translations here--interesting to say the least. 
When this board was born—many years ago there was much animosity toward Japanese made marbles. It was not the marbles’ fault.
I feel that a new respect for them is on the rise and we should recognize these as they should be—glass marbles.

This info is "Study Hall "stuff imho @Steph--just sayin.
Marble—On!!
 

[shiroaiko]

On 3/19/2025 at 5:28 AM, akroorka said:

Thanks for the translations here--interesting to say the least. 
When this board was born—many years ago there was much animosity toward Japanese made marbles. It was not the marbles’ fault.
I feel that a new respect for them is on the rise and we should recognize these as they should be—glass marbles.

This info is "Study Hall "stuff imho @Steph--just sayin.
Marble—On!!
 

Thank you, akroorka, for your thoughtful comment. People here have already accumulated a lot of research on Japanese marbles. I believe that comes from love and pure interest for marbles. This makes a big encouragement for me to be here. Thank you for the opportunity to share and learn together.