Vintage Cameras

I am in love with vintage cameras! A few months ago a friend gave me two Brownie cameras and a remote flash and today I picked up two more cameras at a car boot sale in Portsmouth.  Whilst I would love to get them all in working order, the plan is to collect a selection to display in my work area and around the house (I am a photographer after all!)  Some of them will make amazing props for vintage loving people to use during portrait sessions and weddings.

This is a All-Mite B.C Flash Unit.  I can’t find much information about it, but what I do know, is that it takes a very large bulb!  I’m so glad I don’t have to use a flash unit like this.  It is a great compact flash, the reflector closes like a fan so it can be easily packed away.

I picked this next camera up a car boot sale near Portsmouth.  It was in a box of darkroom equipment and the lady was selling the whole box for £8.  The last thing I needed was a load more darkroom accessories to shift so I offered £2.50 for just the camera, and I got it!  This one isn’t in working condition, the back isn’t attached properly so any film you put in would be ruined.  But I really like the shape and I love the ‘Made in England’ sticker on the front.

This camera is probably my favourite.  I love the pink/blue colour of the lens.  This one came from my friend and still has its original case and although it needs a bit of a clean it still works!  This is a Zeiss Icon, I can’t seem to find any information about this is exact camera but Zeiss brought our very similar box cameras  between 1920 and 1950.  The switch below the lens lets you choose between three apertures: f.9, f.11 or f.16.  The switch above the lens offers you three options of distance: 3-6m, 6-20m or 20-inf.  Most importantly though, it looks really good!

This beautiful box camera is a Kodak No2 Brownie.  This camera was introduced in 1901!  It has two sliding mechanisms on the top, one for a bulb or a time setting, and the other for a choice of three apertures.  It also has two small reflecting finders for vertical or horizontal shots.  It would appear that it is a significant camera in that it was the first camera to use 120 roll film, but in this age of digital media that probably doesn’t mean much to most of us, so go look it up!

This cine camera is the other camera that I picked up at the car boot sale.  The guy was asking £8 for it, and as it is in complete working order AND came with instructions I was happy to pay the price.

I hope you enjoyed seeing the start of my collection.  If you like this post then please click the little heart at the top of this page (above the title).  I will keep you updated on all my vintage camera finds!