Chronology
1912
Founder, Tokuji Hayakawa, invents the Tokubijo snap buckle and acquires utility model design patent
Establishes metalworking shop in Matsui-cho, Honjo-ku, Tokyo (now Shin-ohashi, Koto-ku, Tokyo) on September 15
1914
Moves to Hayashi-cho, Honjo-ku, Tokyo (now Tachikawa, Sumida-ku, Tokyo)
Installs one-horsepower electric motor
1915
Invents Hayakawa Mechanical Pencil and begins export to the US and Europe
Establishes Hayakawa Brothers Shokai
1920
Establishes branch factory in Oshiage, Tokyo (now Yahiro, Sumida-ku, Tokyo)
1923
All factories destroyed during Great Kanto Earthquake
Dissolves Hayakawa Brothers Shokai and relocates to Osaka
1924
Establishes Hayakawa Metal Works in Tanabe-cho, Higashinari-gun, Osaka Prefecture (now the location of the Head Office)
1925
Succeeds in assembling first Japan-made crystal radio set; begins mass production and sales
Establishes sales office in Utsubo, Osaka
1926
Begins export of radio sets and components to China, Southeast Asia, India, and South America
Establishes Tokyo office in Hayashi-cho (Honjo-ku, Tokyo), a former site of the company’s factory
Adopts assembly-line production for radios
1927
Holds Sharp radio trade fairs in Kyushu, Japan and Shanghai, China
1929
Releases AC vacuum-tube radios