Vivitar advertising
A chronology of Ponder & Best (later Vivitar) advertising and marketing
In the early years, Ponder & Best primarily distributed products branded by other companies. Most ads prior to the late 1960s are ads for well-known camera-maker brands. Starting in the mid-1960s, P&B began marketing products under their own brand name, Vivitar. By the late 1960s all P&B advertising was in support of the Vivitar brand name. The brand was so successful, the company eventually changed their name to Vivitar. This article presents a chronology of advertising from the company, primarily through the presentation of magazine ads, original tear sheets, and other marketing literature.
1940s
P&B Filter Kits Jun 1946 scan courtesy Voxphoto image by camerawiki (Image rights) |
Rollieflex Cameras Nov 1949, U.S. Camera image by camerawiki (Image rights) |
1950s
Rollie Cameras Nov 1956, U.S. Camera image by camerawiki (Image rights) |
1960
Sekonic Exposure Meters Sep 1960, Modern Photography image by camerawiki (Image rights) |
1962
Sankyo 8mm Movie Camera May 1962, Popular Photography image by camerawiki (Image rights) |
1965
Mamiya SLR May 1965, Popular Photography image by camerawiki (Image rights) |
1967
Vivitar Speedlights Feb 1967, Modern Photography image by camerawiki (Image rights) |
28mm f/2.8 Chrome Nose lens Feb 1967, Modern Photography image by Nesster (Image rights) |
135mm f/2.8 Chrome Nose lens Apr 1967 image by Nesster (Image rights) |
135mm f/1.5 T Mount Aug/Sep 1967 Camera 35 image by Nesster (Image rights) |
85-205mm f/3.8 Zoom 1967 image by Nesster (Image rights) |
1968
135mm f/2.8 Bright Band lens Apr/May 1968, Camera 35 image by Nesster (Image rights) |
1969
Compact 135mm f/2.8 Bright Band Jan 1969, Modern Photography image by Nesster (Image rights) |
85-205mm f/3.8 Zoom Bright Band Feb 1969, Modern Photography image by camerawiki (Image rights) |
T-4 28mm f/2.8 lens Feb 1969 image by camerawiki (Image rights) |
Bright Band(?) test reports 1969 image by camerawiki (Image rights) |
T-4 21mm f/3.8 lens 1969 image by camerawiki (Image rights) |
T-4 Lens System Family 1969 image by camerawiki (Image rights) |
1970
T-4 400mm & Family Dec 1969, Photo Dealer Jan 1970, Photo Weekly image by camerawiki (Image rights) |
Vivitar TX family 1970 image by Nesster (Image rights) |
1971
135mm f/2.8 (early Komine) 1971? (need citation) image by camerawiki (Image rights) |
1976
Vivitar TX family Sep 1976 image by Nesster (Image rights) |
Links
- 1968-1971 Vivitar ad tear sheets, provided by Bill Swinyard of Vivitar
- Flickr user Nesster's Vivitar ads