1951 Duck Marble advertisement for domestic market (Side B)

[shiroaiko]

 

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.. 

 

 

 

 

[shiroaiko]

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.

[Steph]

Thank you so much for cracking the code of Japanese marble making for us.   

 

[LevvyPoole]

"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."

I love how this bit is able to really make me wonder about the journey these marbles have had on their way to me (I'm in the UK).

[shiroaiko]

12 hours ago, Steph said:

Thank you so much for cracking the code of Japanese marble making for us.   

 

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. 

[shiroaiko]

13 hours ago, LevvyPoole said:

"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."

I love how this bit is able to really make me wonder about the journey these marbles have had on their way to me (I'm in the UK).

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. 

[shiroaiko]

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.

[YasudaCollector]

Like I keep saying, this information is absolutely amazing! 😃 I agree with @LevvyPoole, it is really interesting to learn about how Japanese marbles started circulating in China and Hong Kong. It seems like a lot of them have been found there. 

[Ric]

@shiroaiko 

I want to thank you for all of the research you have done and for educating us about the history of marble making in Japan. The information you provide has been a long time coming, and as a fan of old Japanese marbles, I really appreciate it! Please keep up the good work!

[shiroaiko]

9 hours ago, Ric said:

@shiroaiko 

I want to thank you for all of the research you have done and for educating us about the history of marble making in Japan. The information you provide has been a long time coming, and as a fan of old Japanese marbles, I really appreciate it! Please keep up the good work!

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.