No nameIn search of iron parts
The Kosai region, Sakichi Toyoda's birthplace, was known for its enshu cotton and had a thriving textile industry. Sakichi's mother was a farmer by day, while working as a weaver by night. It is said that this inspired Sakichi to invent a new loom to make the job of weaving easier.
After Sakichi's invention of the power loom, several loom manufacturers established businesses in the Hamamatsu area of Enshu, including Suzuki Loom Works (now Suzuki Motor Corporation), Suzumasa Shokki (later renamed as Enshu Saisaku; now Enshu Ltd.).
Although the Hamamatsu region near Kosai was becoming a center for the weaving industry, Sakichi chose to move to Nagoya as an acquaintance from his hometown, Sakuzo Nozue, who worked in the ironworking industry, lived there. In 1894, Sakichi visited Nozue and asked him to produce iron parts for his looms. The following year in 1895, Nozue manufactured iron loom components, which were assembled at Sakichi's power loom testing plant. The prototype for the power loom was completed in 1896, and after test operation and improvements was ready for practical use. As mentioned earlier, Sakichi acquired a patent for this invention in 1898.
Toyoda Shoten
In 1894, Sakichi Toyoda invented a yarn winding machine and applied for a patent on June 27 that year. According to the patent application form for patent No. 2472 "yarn-winding machine", Sakichi's address at the time was 12 Asahi-machi, Nagoya City. His first son, Kiichiro, had been born on June 11, earlier in the month.
Sakichi established a retail outlet, Toyoda Shoten, in Asahi-machi, Nagoya City (near the current Nishiki, Naka-ku area), selling yarn-winding machines while working on development of a power loom. Sakichi's younger brother Heikichi assisted with sales of yarn winding machines, and was responsible for sales in the Kanto region. Once the prototype for the power loom was completed in 1896, a power source was needed to drive the machine during test operation. Heikichi also handled this matter, purchasing a second-hand steam engine and managing to fix it well enough to run the power loom.
With support from Heikichi and Sasuke (his youngest brother), Toyoda Shoten's business grew steadily. In 1897 operations expanded with the construction of a plant at 15 Buhei-cho 3-chome, Nagoya City (near the current Izumi 1-chome, Higashi-ku area), and in January 1906 the Shimasaki-cho Plant was built at 1 Shimasaki-cho, Nishi-ku, Nagoya City (near the current Meieki, Nakamura-ku area). While the Buhei-cho Plant covered 1,300 square meters, the Shimasaki-cho Plant was seven times larger, covering 9,400 square meters. Between the establishment of the two plants, the company name was changed from Toyoda Shoten to Toyoda Shokai Office in 1902. The foundations for invention were steadily falling into place.