Dallmeyer Snapshot

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The Dallmeyer Snapshot Camera is a strut-folding camera taking 2¼×3¼" (6×9 cm) exposures. It is a metal camera with simple settings: Distant, Medium and Near for focusing, Bright and Dull for aperture, Fast, Slow and Time for speed (1/40, 1/20 and T). The lens is a Dallmeyer Anastigmat f/6, with no focal length indicated. There is a reflex finder mounted on the front plate, which swivels for vertical or horizontal pictures (this appears to be a Watson finder in some cameras, but is clearly a brilliant finder in others).[1] One example of the film-pack type seen at Christie's also has a wire-frame finder.[2]

The first model, presented in 1929,[3] uses film packs. A Dallmeyer Snapshot De Luxe appeared the following year. It is marked De Luxe and has leather (or leatherette?) covering instead of black paint. Apart from this, no difference is visible.

In 1931 a 120 rollfilm model appeared.[4] It exists both in normal and De Luxe versions. It has a folding leg to stand vertically.

The Snapshot camera was sold until well into the 1930s.

It is sometimes said that the film pack model was made by Dallmeyer itself and the rollfilm model was made by Houghton-Butcher and marked as such.[5] Other sources say that all the Snapshot were made by Houghton-Butcher.[6]


Bibliography

  • Channing, Norman and Dunn, Mike. British Camera Makers. An A-Z Guide to Companies and Products. London : Parkland Designs, 1996. ISBN 0-9524630-0-8 P.40.
  • McKeown, James M. and Joan C. McKeown's Price Guide to Antique and Classic Cameras, 12th Edition, 2005-2006. USA, Centennial Photo Service, 2004. ISBN 0-931838-40-1 (hardcover). ISBN 0-931838-41-X (softcover). P.240.


Notes

  1. Auction lot of three Dallmeyer Snapshot cameras sold at the May 2011 Westlicht Photographica Auction: one leatherette-covered (de luxe) film-pack type, and standard (painted metal) film pack and roll-film cameras. The later roll-film camera has a brilliant finder; both the film-pack ones appear to have a Watson finder.
  2. Auction lot of three Dallmeyer Snapshot cameras sold at Christie's in London (in the auction The British Camera 1840-1960: the Jim Barron Collection): painted-finish film-pack and roll-film cameras, and a de luxe roll-film one.
  3. Date: Channing and Dunn, p.40.
  4. Date: Channing and Dunn, p.40.
  5. Channing and Dunn, p.40.
  6. McKeown, p.240.