Akio Oikawa/Yomiuri Shimbun
German-made radiometers attract the attention of customers with their great design.
October 11, 2024 12:15 (Japan time)
At Kanedaya Lichtmuehle, an antique shop in Kisarazu City, Chiba Prefecture, glass bulbs with four small blades on the inside are lined up. The blade rotates silently when exposed to light. These spheres are radiometers, an experimental tool developed in the 19th century to measure the energy of light. The simple form is now loved as an interior item.
The blade in the center of the low-pressure glass bulb is black on one side and silver on the other. The black side absorbs more light and becomes warmer. It is believed that the temperature difference between the front and back surfaces affects the air inside, creating the force that rotates the blades. It is said that it rotates well under sunlight that contains infrared rays or incandescent light.
Akio Oikawa/Yomiuri Shimbun
The blades of the radiometer rotate when exposed to light.
Hirotaka Hasegawa (57), owner of Kanedaya Lichtmuehle, said, “I feel the power of nature, and looking at it calms me down.” There are about 250 German-made radiometers, called “Lichtmuehle” in German, lined up inside the store.
We mainly handle products from Lichtenheld Glass, which has a reputation for manufacturing. The store is lined with a wide variety of radiometers, including stand types and hanging types.
Radiometers come in a variety of shapes and sizes, including spheres and water drops. The glass surface is decorated with patterns such as plants, giving it a gorgeous impression. Several glass beads lined up elegantly adorned the window that let in the light.
Akio Oikawa/Yomiuri Shimbun
Exterior of Kanedaya Richtmuehle Akio Oikawa/Yomiuri Shimbun
There are many radiometers lined up in an antique store with a retro atmosphere.
Hasegawa said they check all products for defects when they arrive at the store and polish the glass surfaces as necessary. The number of radiometers has been declining in recent years, which is said to be due to a lack of high-quality mica and glass for the blades.
Radiometers are popular with both men and women and make great gifts. “It’s interesting how the rotation speed of the blades changes depending on the sunlight.I hope you enjoy it as an ever-changing interior,” says Hasegawa.
signboard architecture
It was originally a store that sold Western goods. It was run by a pharmacy that had been run by Mr. Hasegawa’s family since the Edo period. This building was rebuilt in 1932, in the early Showa period, as a “signboard building” with a flat, square facade that resembles a signboard. The Western-style design and decoration create a retro atmosphere, and the lattice ceiling is also distinctive.
Due to its age, demolition was considered, but Hasegawa renovated it and it remains in its current state. In addition to selling a variety of antique items including stationery, we also provide watch repair services.
Yomiuri Shimbun
Hirotaka Hasegawa
Hirotaka Hasegawa
Born in Chiba Prefecture in 1967. After working as a company employee, in 2011 he opened an antique store selling radiometers in Hachioji, Tokyo. In 2015, “Kanedaya Richtmuhle” opened in Kisarazu City, Chiba Prefecture.
