Uploads from John Kratz, tagged vintagecamera

Traveler

nobody@flickr.com (John Kratz) — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 10:03:01 -0700

John Kratz posted a photo:

Here's another unusual member of the "Chicago Cluster". I've never seen the Traveler name on any of the Chicago minicams, nor have I ever seen that weird viewer attachment. It seems to be a type of exposure setting aid, as different amounts of light are (barely) visible through each side, but why you'd need it on a camera like this is beyond me.
Also note the circular knob on the right side, which twists to open the camera back. Most have simple clips on both ends.

Bell & Howell Filmo № 75

nobody@flickr.com (John Kratz) — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 10:00:58 -0700

John Kratz posted a photo:

The beautiful Filmo 75 is a 16mm movie camera, produced in Chicago beginning in 1928. It was intended for amateur use, but the quality of its construction makes it easy to see why Bell & Howell cameras were the tools of choice for Hollywood studios in the early days of motion pictures.

Although rather heavy by today's standards, the 75 was quite compact for its time, and was marketed as a ladies' camera. Its ornate leather covering was available in Walnut Brown, Ebony Black, and Silver Birch (seen here).

Truly a work of art.

Tower Camflash 127

nobody@flickr.com (John Kratz) — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 09:53:54 -0700

John Kratz posted a photo:

I have to say, this was a really nice score. A mint/unused complete outfit for $1.25.

$1.25 because the other bidder didn't want to spend more than a dollar!

The Camflash 127 is a plastic camera that makes 4x4cm exposures on 127 film. I've seen it in black, red, and blue, but it may have been available in more than 3 colors. Made for Sears c1960.

At some point I'll probably upload a picture of the boxed outfit.

Ferrania Zeta Duplex

nobody@flickr.com (John Kratz) — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 06:43:53 -0700

John Kratz posted a photo:

With this design, Ferrania made it easy to "smile for the camera".

The Zeta Duplex is a metal box camera, made in Italy c1940-45. Exposures (on 120 film) can be 6x9cm or 6x4.5cm, and I'm guessing that's why it's called "Duplex".

This little guy has lost his handle, but it doesn't seem to have dampened his spirits!

Coca-Cola Brownie Starflash

nobody@flickr.com (John Kratz) — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 04:49:52 -0700

John Kratz posted a photo:

Like so many Kodak cameras, the Brownie Starflash sold well in its time, making it rather common for collectors today.
Not so common is this two-tone version, available only as a premium and not for retail sale. It sports appropriate Coca-Cola colors as well as a "fishtail logo" decal on top.
The original black Starflash was introduced in March of 1957. Other colors followed a year later, and production of the Coca-Cola model began in October 1959. This example was made in November of 1959.

Argus Lady Carefree

nobody@flickr.com (John Kratz) — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 10:11:49 -0700

John Kratz posted a photo:

Same name, different design.
Maybe they decided the other one was just a little too feminine?
I first saw this variation at Marcy Merrill's wonderful website, Junk Store Cameras, and happily stumbled across this particular camera as I was browsing eBay. This Lady Carefree was made for Argus by Sedic Ltd. of Japan. It's the same camera as the Argus Instant Load 146 X and the Astral S20 Electric Eye.
This was the first Japanese camera to use the Magicube.

Ansco Panda

nobody@flickr.com (John Kratz) — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 09:46:46 -0700

John Kratz posted a photo:

The popular and aptly-named Ansco Panda is a TLR-style box camera that takes 620 film. Many sources (on the web) say the Panda is made of bakelite, but I'm 99.9% certain it's not.
The word most often used to describe the Panda is "cute", and with good reason. :o)
It's also described as Ansco's answer to the Kodak Baby Brownie, and I'd say it was a damn good move on Ansco's part; the Panda enjoyed a long production run (c1939-50).
This example has a stamp inside that says 7-48. If it's a date stamp, that would make it 60 years old!

Roskoflex

nobody@flickr.com (John Kratz) — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 06:51:16 -0700

John Kratz posted a photo:

Apparently not very much is known about the Roskoflex other than its similarity to the Bedfordflex. In fact, they're nearly identical, so it's all but certain that they were made by the same Hong Kong company. Exactly what company, I don't know.
I can tell you that if you put a roll of film into this camera, you'd just about double its weight. It's constructed mostly of thin plastic.
I had to buy this one, of course, because of its good looks. Also because it was 99 cents. I love how it has a "focus lens". Not an adjustable focus lens, mind you, but a focus lens nonetheless!

Univex Twinflex

nobody@flickr.com (John Kratz) — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 06:50:31 -0700

John Kratz posted a photo:

Another distinctive design from Universal Camera Corporation, the Twinflex is a small twin-lens reflex camera made of bakelite and aluminum. The knob at the bottom provides focus for both lenses by moving the front of the camera in and out, making it a true TLR.
I was very happy to have won the auction for this, as it's been on my wish list for a long time. This one is in excellent condition, and came with its original box (complete and in great shape) and instruction booklet.
The Twinflex was made c1939 and takes #00 film.

Reflex-Korelle

nobody@flickr.com (John Kratz) — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 06:44:37 -0700

John Kratz posted a photo:

This gorgeous camera is the first model of the Reflex-Korelle, designed and produced in Germany by Franz Kochmann. Beginning production c1934-35, it was one of the earliest medium format SLRs (6x6cm exposures on 120 film). It features interchangeable screw-mount lenses, shutter speeds to 1/500, and apertures from f2.8 to f32. It also has a waist-level matte screen finder with a magnifier, as well as a folding frame finder.
Reflex-Korelle cameras were imported and distributed in the USA by Burke & James of Chicago, and many examples say "Burke & James" beneath the Reflex-Korelle logo on the nameplate. Postwar models were called Meister-Korelle or Master Reflex (in the USA).
This camera is just beautifully made, so don't be surprised if I post more pictures of it.

Color-Flex

nobody@flickr.com (John Kratz) — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 06:39:13 -0700

John Kratz posted a photo:

I think the appeal of this camera is obvious. How many cameras do you see that have cream-colored enamel and a burgundy covering? As far as I know, the styling of this camera is unique. The burgundy covering is interesting in that it has two textures at once; it's a linen-like fabric with a pebbled texture. The pebbling is just about invisible in this photo, but can be seen in Travis Gray's photo, or in Rick Soloway's photo.
Although it says "Photo Laboratories" on it, McKeown's Price Guide puts this camera under the heading of Monroe Sales Company, so I'm guessing they were the distributors. It doesn't say Monroe anywhere on the camera itself.
The Color-Flex takes 127 film and was made c1947.

GAF 136 XF

nobody@flickr.com (John Kratz) — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 06:35:45 -0700

John Kratz posted a photo:

Here's a cool camera that was made c1969 and sold by GAF, a company with a long history that includes ties to Agfa/Ansco. The 136 XF is the same camera as the Halina Signal Flash, so I feel safe in assuming this camera was actually made by Haking as well, since it says it was made in China. It takes 126 film cartridges.

I first saw this camera about 6 months ago in Haiku Garry's photostream. His photo is much better than mine, so you should have a look.
Unfortunately, mine is missing the ring around the lens that says "color corrected".

Fisher-Price toy camera

nobody@flickr.com (John Kratz) — Fri, 30 May 2008 05:45:18 -0700

John Kratz posted a photo:

This is my first camera ever -- the Fisher-Price Picture Story Camera. It's made of paper-covered wood and plastic. Inside is a little disc with eight scenes. When you press the shutter button, the scene changes and the flash cube turns. The flash cube has a picture of the sun on one side, then a brown leaf, a snowflake, and a flower, representing the four seasons. There's also a transparent wheel at the back (seen behind the shutter) with colors in it. You look through the second viewfinder and turn the wheel, and you can see the world through the changing colors. The lens turns but has no actual function. It also has a nifty red & yellow wrist strap, though it's not visible in this photo.
This wonderful toy was made in 1967.

I will try to re-shoot this camera, as this is a pretty poor photo of it.

Kodak Stereo Camera

nobody@flickr.com (John Kratz) — Sun, 25 May 2008 03:06:50 -0700

John Kratz posted a photo:

The Kodak Stereo Camera was made from 1954-59, and takes 24mm square exposures on standard 35mm film. Its body is made of brown bakelite, and it has a handy bubble level which you can see when you look through the viewfinder.
I got lucky with this one -- it had a "buy it now" of $15 !

Junka

nobody@flickr.com (John Kratz) — Sun, 25 May 2008 03:06:11 -0700

John Kratz posted a photo:

With a name like Junka, it has to be good!
This small, metal, and fairly heavy camera was named for the manufacturer, Junka-Werke of Germany. From c1938, the Junka was made with a rigid optical finder. This example is earlier (c1937), with a folding finder. The same camera was renamed "Juka" in 1950 and distibuted by Adox, who also sold the special rollfilm for it.

Pentacon Penti

nobody@flickr.com (John Kratz) — Thu, 22 May 2008 08:58:38 -0700

John Kratz posted a photo:

Yes I know, I already have one of these in my collection, but that one has turquoise enamel and this one is oxblood, and I can't decide which I like better. Plus it was only $13, so there was no way I was passing it up!
This is the first model of the Penti, made in Germany in 1959. It takes 35mm film in special cassettes.

Ruberg-Futuro

nobody@flickr.com (John Kratz) — Thu, 22 May 2008 08:57:47 -0700

John Kratz posted a photo:

The Ruberg-Futuro is a simple but stylish camera for 4x6cm exposures on 127 film, made c1933. It's got a helical telescoping lens tube with a cool feature: When you twist the lens tube all the way out, the sports finder pops open automatically via the little actuator button seen behind the finder.
This particular example isn't exactly pristine, but it didn't cost much. The Ruberg-Futuro was also made with a red body, but those tend to fetch a much higher price.

Charlie the Tuna camera

nobody@flickr.com (John Kratz) — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 11:49:37 -0700

John Kratz posted a photo:

Whitehouse Products Inc. was a camera company based in Brooklyn, NY.
Starting c1947, they made a wonderfully styled camera named "Beacon", and several variations of it over the next 24 years, all of the same basic style.
Then in 1971, Whitehouse teamed up with StarKist Tuna and produced this novelty camera in the form of StarKist's cartoon mascot, Charlie.
The camera takes 126 film, and Charlie even accepts flashcubes in the top of his beret!

Filmor

nobody@flickr.com (John Kratz) — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 06:43:57 -0700

John Kratz posted a photo:

The Filmor (c1950) is one of several box cameras made by Fototecnica of Turin, Italy. It takes 6x9cm images on 120 film.
Box cameras can be pretty unremarkable in appearance, but I'm quite attracted to the ones with stylish faceplates, like this one.

Alka Box

nobody@flickr.com (John Kratz) — Thu, 29 May 2008 07:19:27 -0700

John Kratz posted a photo:

The Alka Box (c1953) is just one of several attractive box cameras made by Vredeborch of Germany. This example has a soft plastic handle, parallel to the sides of the camera, while some have a diagonal handle (similar to the one on the GAP 6x9 box). Another Alka Box variation is that some included a built-in yellow filter, rotated into place by a knob below the lens (located where the 'O' in 'box' is). I have also seen a knob-less example where the 'O' was not filled in -- it was just a silver circle without the black inside. Most Vredeborch box cameras have the awesome nifty-fifties covering seen here, but some had the standard run-of-the-mill pebbled covering (also similar to the GAP).
So many old box cameras have viewfinders that are almost completely useless - tiny, yellowed, dim & dirty. This camera's finders are the exact opposite. They're large, bright, clean, and crystal-clear, which is pretty good for being 60 years old!