Printed: 2025-06-20
Masui, Théo.
Identity
Category
Person (Male)
Alternative name or descriptor
Standardized form(s) of name according to other rules
Status
- Amateur
Details
Life dates
Brussels, 1863 - ?, ?
Activity
1896 - 1899 Bruxelles
Jean Baptiste Théodore, ° 22.12.1863. Artillery lieutenant. Temporary transfer to the "Institut cartographique militaire" recorded on 16.7.1895. Secretary general of the Congo section in Tervueren at the Brussels "Exposition Universelle" of 1897. Appointed first director-curator of the "Musée du Congo" in 1898-1899. Initial "H." in ABP membership lists.
1907 Londres [GB]
Resigned from the Belgian army with the rank of captain on 2.2.1900. Masui moved to London [GB] by 1903 where he had a successful career as an importer and distributor of automobiles and accessories, in particular for "Ateliers Germain" of Monceau-sur-Sambre. "A large crowd gathered around the "Ateliers Germain" stand, attracted by an interesting series of photographs taken by Captain Masui, who is currently travelling across India in a Germain car. The photos feature views from the first leg of his trip, from Bombay to Agra" (Journal de Bruxelles, 29.1.1907). Thereafter coach builder and designer under his own name, manufacturing Belgian Vanden Plas car bodies under licence. In 1913, the firm of Théo. Masui Ltd. was renamed Vanden Plas (England) Ltd. Masui was recalled to active service at the outbreak of World War I when he was appointed head of the technical service for the reserve car fleet stationed in Antwerp.
Jean Baptiste Théodore, ° 22.12.1863. Artillery lieutenant. Temporary transfer to the "Institut cartographique militaire" recorded on 16.7.1895. Secretary general of the Congo section in Tervueren at the Brussels "Exposition Universelle" of 1897. Appointed first director-curator of the "Musée du Congo" in 1898-1899. Initial "H." in ABP membership lists.
1907 Londres [GB]
Resigned from the Belgian army with the rank of captain on 2.2.1900. Masui moved to London [GB] by 1903 where he had a successful career as an importer and distributor of automobiles and accessories, in particular for "Ateliers Germain" of Monceau-sur-Sambre. "A large crowd gathered around the "Ateliers Germain" stand, attracted by an interesting series of photographs taken by Captain Masui, who is currently travelling across India in a Germain car. The photos feature views from the first leg of his trip, from Bombay to Agra" (Journal de Bruxelles, 29.1.1907). Thereafter coach builder and designer under his own name, manufacturing Belgian Vanden Plas car bodies under licence. In 1913, the firm of Théo. Masui Ltd. was renamed Vanden Plas (England) Ltd. Masui was recalled to active service at the outbreak of World War I when he was appointed head of the technical service for the reserve car fleet stationed in Antwerp.
Locations
1896 - 1899 Bruxelles
1907 Londres [GB]
1907 Londres [GB]
Exhibitions
Genres / subject matter
Techniques
Bibliography/Webography
Context
Affiliations
Affiliated entity
Association belge de Photographie
Type of affiliation
Member of
Dates of affiliation
1896 - 1899
Description of relationship
Management
Record source
DIRECTORY_1997#2979
Status
Level of detail
Dates of creation/revision
SFJ revised 23.4.2020 & 26.5.2025 based on information supplied by M. Demaeght