Facts and Specs
Photo courtesy of John Kratz
Written by John Kratz
Designed and produced by Lang Kirchheimer
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Photo courtesy of John Kratz
Kodak Brownie Target Six-20
A metal box camera introduced in April 1941 as the Target Brownie Six-20, and renamed Brownie Target Six-20 in 1946. There are faceplate variations -- some are embossed and some flat, some have a silver bar at the bottom (where it says "made in...") and some have a black bar.
I'm guessing these variations might be an indicator of the date of manufacture, but I don't know what variation corresponds to what period of time. This example has the embossed front and black bar, and was a gift from my sister & brother-in-law.
Type: Box rollfilm
Introduced: July 1946
Discontinued: May 1952
Film size: 620
Picture size: 2 1/4 X 3 1/4"
Manufactured: United States
Lens: Meniscus
Shutter: Rotary
Original price: $3.50
Additional info: Brownie-Camera.com
Photo courtesy of John Kratz
Roskoflex
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!
Information: Very little is known about this camera
Photo courtesy of John Kratz
Brownie Starflash
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.
This one 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.
Type: Solid body eyelevel rollfilm
Introduced: March 1957
Discontinued: June 1965
Film size: 12
Picture size: 1 5/8 X 1 5/8"
Manufactured: United States, France
Lens: Dakon
Shutter: Rotary
Original price: $8.50 all models Coca-Cola was promotional
Additional info: Brownie-Camera.com
Photo courtesy of John Kratz
Univex Uniflash
Another stylish camera from Universal Camera of New York, the Uniflash is a plastic camera made c1940 for Univex.
Universal had the proprietary film made for them in Belgium, a fact that would eventually cause problems for the camera company.
This example is shown topped with the Univex No. F-15 flash unit, sporting a Wabash Press 40 bulb. I felt I had to photograph this camera/flash unit with one of the "proper" bulbs specified in the user manual, clearly indicating that there's something wrong with me.
Type: Bakelite viewfinder
Introduced: 1941
Film size: 00 rollfilm
Manufactured: U.S. by Universal Camera Corporation
Lens: Vitar
Shutter: Flash synchronized
Photo courtesy of John Kratz
Trumpfreflex
The Trumpfreflex is an export version of the Richter Reflecta, made c1940 in Germany and sold in the United States by Sears.
Focus (helical) is controlled by the lever at the lower right, and the viewing and taking lenses are coupled behind the faceplate.
Type: Twin Lens Reflex
Introduced: 1940s
Lens: The Reflecta has a Brillantar 73/4.3 taking lens
Photo courtesy of John Kratz
Sabre "620"
The Sabre 620 is a simple plastic box camera made by Shaw-Harrison from c1956. There were several colors made, as can be seen on this page at the awesome westfordcomp.com.
The great, classic styling of the Sabre was one of the things that made me want to collect cameras in the first place, yet it's a recent purchase.
Type: Box camera
Introduced: 1950s
Manufactured: By Shaw-Harrison
Photo courtesy of John Kratz
Kodak Baby Brownie
Very cute and popular bakelite camera made from 1934-41.
It was designed by famed industrial designer Walter Dorwin Teague.
Type: Solid body eyelevel rollfilm
Introduced: July 1934 (1948 in UK)
Discontinued: 1941 (1952 in UK)
Film size: 127
Picture size: 1 5/8 X 2 1/2"
Manufactured: US and UK
Lens: Meniscus
Shutter: Rotary
Original price: $1.00
Additional info: Brownie-Camera.com
Photo courtesy of John Kratz
Mirroscope
The Mirroscope is an opaque projector known as an episcope, and sometimes called a magic lantern. Inside are two electric light bulbs which illuminate the object to be projected. Usually this object would be a postcard, photo, or other printed matter, but objects such as coins or leaves could also be projected. The light is reflected through the lens, and the image is projected onto a wall or screen.
This example is an improved model (made around 1913), with the addition of the two heat stacks directly above the light bulbs, designed to allow the heat to escape while preventing light from entering. Focus is achieved by moving the telescoping lens tube in or out.
Other Mirroscopes I've seen have a standard two-prong plug, but the cord on this one terminates in a screw base which fits into a light bulb socket. I was pleasantly surprised to find that this Mirroscope still had two of those old teardrop-shaped bulbs inside - the kind with the little point at the top - but even more surprised when they both worked!
Type: Opaque projector
Introduced: 1910's
Manufactured: US by Buckeye Stereopticon Co. of Cleveland, Ohio
Photo courtesy of John Kratz
Super Altissa
The Super Altissa is a leather-clad box camera for 6x6cm exposures on rollfilm. Aperture & shutter speeds are selectable, and it's got a focusing lens.
This rare and beautiful camera was made c1938 in Dresden, Germany by Eho-Altissa.
Type: Box camera
Introduced: c1938
Manufactured: Dresden, Germany by Eho-Altissa
Lens: Victar f4.5/7.5cm lens or Altissar f3.5/7.5cm lens
Photo courtesy of John Kratz
Exakta Varex VX
The Exakta cameras are very popular with collectors, and documentation is abundant. McKeown's, however, is my only real reference source, and so I'm not quite sure what to call this camera, based on their photos. Perhaps some Exakta enthusiast out there will enlighten me.
In any case, I can tell you that this camera was made by Ihagee Kamerawerk in Dresden, Germany in 1950 or 1951, and that the Varex was the first 35mm camera with an interchangeable pentaprism finder.
This example is shown fitted with a Schacht Travenar 135mm 3.5 lens.
Introduced: 1950s
Manufactured: Dresden, Germany by Ihagee Kamerawerk
Photo courtesy of John Kratz
Dacora Daci Royal
The Daci Royal is a metal box camera with a focusing lens, made in Germany in 1950.
The Daci also came in red, grey, and black.
Introduced: Mid-century
Manufactured: Germany
Photo courtesy of John Kratz
Charlie the Tuna camera
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!
Introduced: 1971
Manufactured: U.S. by Whitehouse Products Inc.