Difference between revisions of "Sears"

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{{Flickr_image
 
{{Flickr_image
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|image_source= http://www.flickr.com/photos/kratz/1235322019/in/pool-camerapedia/
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|image_source= http://www.flickr.com/photos/7623944@N03/4584331676/in/pool-camerawiki
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|image= http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1219/1235322019_c0e0af54fa_m.jpg
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|image= http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3300/4584331676_74b4229046.jpg
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|image_align= left
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|image_text= Sears, Roebuck & Company Mail Order Building in L.A.
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|image_by= Mark Peacock
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|image_rights= (c)
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}}
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{{Flickr_image
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|image_source= http://www.flickr.com/photos/90900361@N08/26254684233/in/pool-camerawiki
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|image= http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7658/26254684233_f5441e24fb_n.jpg
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|image_align= center
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|image_text= Sears Camera Catalog 1956 <br><small>image by Martin Fox</small>
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|image_by=
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|image_rights= wp
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}}
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{{br}}
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{{Flickr_image
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|image_source= https://www.flickr.com/photos/renesisx/9454373/in/pool-camerawiki
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|image= http://farm1.staticflickr.com/6/9454373_1daa09305a_m_d.jpg
 
|image_align= right
 
|image_align= right
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|image_text= Tower 120 Flash
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|image_text= Sears Tower
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|image_by= Nick Roquet
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|image_rights= (c)
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}}
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{| class="plainlinks floatright" style="text-align: center;"
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|-
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||[http://www.flickr.com/photos/anderspace/3897676470/in/pool-camerawiki http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2445/3897676470_331b0e3b82_m.jpg]
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<br />Tower 7<br /><small>Picture by {{image author|Mark Anderson}}</small> {{with permission}}
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|-
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|| [http://www.flickr.com/photos/kratz/1235322019/in/pool-camerawiki http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1219/1235322019_c0e0af54fa_m.jpg]
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|-
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|| [[Pucky|Tower 120 Flash]]<br /><small>Picture by {{image author|John Kratz}}</small> {{non-commercial}}
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|-
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|| [http://www.flickr.com/photos/jimmysmith/2638287535/in/pool-camerapedia/ http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3022/2638287535_5a39724f45_m.jpg]
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|-
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|| [[Samoca 35 M-28|Tower 57]]<br /><small>Picture by {{image author|Jimmy Smith}}</small> {{non-commercial}}
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|-
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|| [http://www.flickr.com/photos/bancoimagenes/1536006420/in/pool-camerawiki http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2181/1536006420_1966ddf214_m.jpg]
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|-
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|| [[Imperial Savoy|Tower Snappy]]<br /><small>Picture by {{image author|Eduardo Urdangaray}}</small> {{with permission}}
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|-
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|| [http://www.flickr.com/photos/kratz/2735265195/in/pool-camerawiki http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3271/2735265195_7a2444ef8f_m.jpg]
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|-
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|| [[Tower Camflash 127]]<br /><small>Picture by {{image author|John Kratz}}</small> {{non-commercial}}
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|-
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|| [http://www.flickr.com/photos/inspiredphotosdotcom/3930523380/in/pool-camerawiki http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2474/3930523380_ec003cdcb9_m.jpg]
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|-
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|| Tower Flash 120<br />made by [[Bilora]].<br /><small>Picture by {{image author|Inspiredphotos}}</small> {{with permission}}
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|-
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|| [http://www.flickr.com/photos/camerawiki/48728015322/in/pool-camerawiki https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48728015322_88457e8440_m_d.jpg]
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|-
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|| [[Halma 44|Tower 44B]]<br /><small>Picture by {{image author|rebollo_fr}}</small> {{with permission}}
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|-
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|| [http://www.flickr.com/photos/fireflymine/4329031202/in/pool-camerawiki http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4046/4329031202_44417d7b5a_m.jpg]
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|-
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|| [[Imperial Mark 27|Tower Hide Away]]<br /><small>picture by {{image author|Carrie Little}}</small> {{with permission}}
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|-
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|| [http://www.flickr.com/photos/uwe_kulick/5497119692/in/pool-camerawiki/ http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5133/5497119692_5aeea96c59_m.jpg]
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|-
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|| Sears car<br /><small>picture by {{image author|Uwe Kulick}}</small> {{with permission}}
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|-
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|
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{{Flickr_image
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|image_source=https://www.flickr.com/photos/titrisol/52549030750/in/pool-camerawiki/
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|image=https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52549030750_638661a5c9_n.jpg
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|image_align=center
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|image_text= Sears Tower 83 Stereo
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|image_by= Pablo Coronel
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|image_rights= cc
 
}}
 
}}
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''Sears'' is the most famous mail order house in the world since its Chicago building ''Sears Tower'' was the highest in the world for a certain period. In the U.S.A. it was the greatest mail-order an retail vendor of consumer goods. It was founded by Richard W. Sears in 1886. It started as reseller of watches in North Redwood, Minnesota. In 1887 Sears moved to Chicago and employed Alvah C. Roebuck as watch- and toolmaker. In 1893 Roebuck became partner in the company which then was renamed '''Sears, Roebuck & Co.'''. Like other great mail-order houses Sears had a house-brand for cameras, the '''Tower''' cameras which were all OEM products, made by different renowned camera makers of several countries.
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'''Sears''' is the most famous mail order house in the world since its Chicago building ''Sears Tower'' was the highest in the world for a certain period. In the U.S.A. it was the greatest mail-order and retail vendor of consumer goods. It was founded by Richard W. Sears in 1886, starting as a reseller of watches in North Redwood, Minnesota. In 1887 Sears moved to Chicago and employed Alvah C. Roebuck as watch- and toolmaker. In 1893 Roebuck became partner in the company which then was renamed '''Sears, Roebuck & Co.'''.  
 +
 
 +
Like other great mail-order houses Sears had a house-brand for cameras, the '''Tower''' cameras which were all OEM products, made by different renowned camera makers of several countries. Some cameras were sold branded Sears, and a few under their original manufacturers.  In the 1930s and 1940s Sears also had another house brand, [[Marvel]], which was used on several camera models as well as a wide range of other photographic products.
 +
 
 +
Several Tower cameras were also made by [[Bilora]], [[Pentax]], [[Iloca]], etc. '''Sears''' lenses for [[SLR]]s were made by [[Ricoh]]. [[Conley]] was a partner of Sears & Roebuck. In 1924 Conley was owned by Sears, and bought [[Seneca]]. But the Seneca brand disappeared in 1926.
 +
 
 +
In 1980 Sears, Roebuck and Co. was restructured and rebranded to '''Sears''' Merchandise Group.
 +
After several years of growth, Sears couldn't compete with Walmart and other value chains and it was sold to K-Mart in 2004.  By 2021 Sears is a shadow of a former self, closing thousands of stores and surviving in few places.
  
 
== Distributed cameras ==
 
== Distributed cameras ==
−
{|
+
{|rules="rows"
−
||'''original camera'''||'''sold as'''
+
|-
 +
|| '''Sears name''' || '''Description''' || '''Original camera/manufacturer'''　|| '''Launch date'''
 +
|-
 +
|| [[Marvel (127)]] || Rebranded [[Acro Model R]] || [[Acro]]
 +
|-
 +
|| Marvel "27" || Name variant of [[The Chicago Cluster]] 127 cameras || [[The Chicago Cluster]]
 +
|-
 +
|| [[Marvel]] S-20 brownie type box|| Made for and sold by Sears as an Ansco || [[Ansco]]
 +
|-
 +
|| [[Marvel]] Box Camera || Rebranded [[Ansco Shur Shot]] || [[Ansco]]
 +
|-
 +
|| [[Marvel-flex]] ||6×6 TLR, c.1941, rebranded [[Ciro-flex|Ciro-Flex A]] || [[Ciro]]
 +
|-
 +
|| Sears 65 || 35mm viewfinder || [[Halina Paulette]]
 +
|-
 +
|| Sears 126 TLS Reflex || [[126 film]] [[SLR]] || [[Ricoh 126c-Flex TLS]]
 +
|-
 +
||  Sears 3A || box camera 3.25x5.25 Kodak V122 film      || [[Conley Kewpie No. 3A]]
 +
|-
 +
||  Sears 32B || SLR, Exakta-mount interchangeable lenses, c.1961 aka Tower 32B || [[Mamiya Prismat NP]]
 +
|-
 +
||  Sears 35rf  ||  35mm rangefinder  ||  [[Ricoh 500 RF]]
 +
|-
 +
||  [[Sears 35RF|Sears 35&#124;RF]] || 35mm rangefinder || [[Ricoh 500 G]]
 +
|-
 +
||  Sears Auto 35TL    ||  35mm SLR  || [[Mamiya 528TL]]
 +
|-
 +
||  Sears Auto CS 1000MX || 35mm SLR || [[Mamiya NC series|Mamiya NC 1000]]
 +
|-
 +
||  Sears Auto CS 1000MXB || 35mm SLR, black body || [[Mamiya NC series|Mamiya NC 1000]]
 +
|-
 +
|| [[Sears Easi-Load FC 600]] ||[[126 film|126 cartridges]] [[Flashcubes|flash cube]] [[Instamatic]] || [[Ricoh 126C Automatic]]
 +
|-
 +
|| [[Sears Easi-Load Auto 600]] ||[[126 film|126 cartridges]] [[Flashcubes|flash cube]] [[Instamatic]] || [[Ricoh 126C Auto CdS]]
 +
|-
 +
|| Sears Easi-Load 700 RF ||[[126 film|126 cartridges]] [[Flashcubes|flash cube]] [[Instamatic]] || Ricoh 126C Deluxe
 +
|-
 +
||  Sears ES 35 Electronic  ||  35mm rangefinder  ||  [[Ricoh Super Shot]]
 +
|-
 +
|| [[Sears FF35]] || 35mm viewfinder || [[Haking]] [[Halina Speedy 33]]
 +
|-
 +
|| [[Sears Flip-Flash 110]]
 +
|-
 +
<!--||  Sears KS                          || 35mm SLR || [[Ricoh XR-2]]
 +
|-  See the discussion page, cannot confirm this existed -->
 +
||  [[Sears KS Auto]]                      || 35mm SLR || [[Ricoh XR-2|Ricoh XR-2s]]
 +
|-
 +
||  [[Sears KS-1]] || 35mm SLR || [[Ricoh XR-6]]
 +
|-
 +
||  [[Sears KS Super]]                    || 35mm SLR, KS-1 with slower speed (1/500s) || [[Ricoh XR-6]]
 +
|-
 +
||  [[Sears KS Super II]]                  || 35mm SLR, KS Super without Bulb || [[Ricoh XR-6]]
 +
|-
 +
||  [[Sears KS-2]]                        || 35mm SLR || [[Ricoh XR-7]]
 +
|-
 +
||  [[Sears KS 1000]]                      || 35mm SLR || [[Ricoh XR-1|Ricoh XR-1, XR-1s]]
 +
|-
 +
||  [[Sears KS 500]]                      || 35mm SLR || [[Ricoh KR-5]] / XR-500
 +
|-
 +
||  [[Sears KSX-1000]]                    || 35mm SLR || [[Ricoh KR-5 Super]]
 +
|-
 +
||  [[Sears KSX]]                          || 35mm SLR || [[Ricoh KR-10]] / XR-1000s
 +
|-
 +
||  [[Sears KSX Super]]                    || 35mm SLR || [[Ricoh KR-10 Super]] / XR-2000
 +
|-
 +
||  Sears KSX-P                    || 35mm SLR (Dual2 Program) || Chinon CP-5
 +
|-
 +
||  Sears M35af                    || 35mm AF compact || Ricoh AF-2?
 +
|-
 +
||  Sears M35 Autofocus                    || 35mm AF compact || Ricoh AF-5?
 +
|-
 +
||  Sears Model 65  || [[35mm]] viewfinder || [[Halina Paulette]]
 +
|-
 +
||  Sears Model 65 RF|| Halinar 45mm f2.8 lens || [[Halina]]
 +
|-
 +
||  Sears RF 5 ||  || [[Ricoh]]
 +
|-
 +
||  Sears RF 7 || 35mm rangefinder || [[Ricoh]]
 +
|-
 +
||  Sears SL-9        ||  35mm SLR, leaf shutter || [[Ricoh 35 Flex]]
 +
|-
 +
||  Sears SL-11        ||  35mm SLR || [[Ricoh Singlex]] or [[Ricoh Singlex TLS]]|| 1965/Spring-Summer
 +
|-
 +
|    [[Sears TLS]] || 35mm SLR || [[Ricoh Singlex TLS]] || 1966/Christmas
 +
|-
 +
|    Sears TLS 500 MX || 35mm SLR || [[Ricoh SLX 500]]
 +
|-
 +
||  Sears TLS 1000 MX    ||  35mm SLR  || [[Mamiya MSX 1000]]
 +
|-
 +
|| [[Seroco Junior]] || 4×5 || [[Conley]] Model VII
 +
|-
 +
||  [[Tower  No. 1]]  || [[Pseudo TLR]] || unknown
 +
|-
 +
||  Tower  5  ||[[127 film]] || [[Bilora Bella]]
 +
|-
 +
||  Tower  7  ||[[120 film]] Brownie type box || Germany (Bilora)
 +
|-
 +
||  Tower  8 || [[box camera]]  || Mfr? Germany
 +
|-
 +
||  Tower  10A || 35mm range finder, 48mm f/2.8 coated || [[Mamiya 35 Ruby]]
 +
|-
 +
||  Tower  10B || 35mm range finder || [[Mamiya]] 4B RF
 +
|-
 +
||  Tower  14          ||[[pseudo-TLR]] box  || [[Bonita 66|Bilora Bonita 66]]
 +
|-
 +
||  Tower  16 ||16mm submini spy cam  || [[Mamiya 16]]
 +
|-
 +
||  Tower  18 ||    4.2cm  f/2.8 || [[Olympus 35-S]]
 +
|-
 +
||  Tower  18A || 35mm rangefinder f/1.9 ||  [[Mamiya 35 Ruby]]
 +
|-
 +
||  [[Tower  18B]] || 35mm rangefinder|| [[Mamiya 35 Ruby Standard]]
 +
|-
 +
||  [[Tower  19]] ||[[35mm]] interchangeable lens rangefinder  || [[Olympus Ace|Olympus Ace E]]
 +
|-
 +
||  Tower  20 ||  || [[Olympus Wide|Olympus Wide-E?]]
 +
|-
 +
||  Tower  20B ||  RF 48mm f/1.7 || [[Mamiya]]
 +
|-
 +
||  Tower  22 || [[SLR]] || [[Asahiflex|Asahiflex IIA]]
 +
|-
 +
||  Tower  23 || [[SLR]] || [[Asahiflex|Asahiflex IA]] and [[Asahiflex|Asahiflex IIB]]
 +
|-
 +
||  Tower  24 || [[SLR]] || [[Asahiflex|Asahiflex IIB]]
 +
|-
 +
||  Tower  25 || TLR || [[Airesflex#Aires Automat|Aires Automat]]  (Nikkor lens) || 1955/Spring-Summer
 +
|-
 +
||  Tower  26 || 35mm [[SLR]]  || [[Pentax|Asahi]] [[Pentax (original)]] and Pentax S
 +
|-
 +
||  Tower  27 || TLR || || 1955/Spring-Summer
 +
|-
 +
||  Tower  29 || 35mm SLR || [[Pentax|Asahi]] Pentax K
 +
|-
 +
||  Tower  Reflex I<small> or </small>Tower 120 Flash || [[pseudo TLR]] || [[Ising]] [[Pucky]] I
 +
|-
 +
||  Tower  Reflex II  ||[[pseudo TLR]]  || [[Photina Reflex|Photina]] from [[Photavit]]-Werk GmbH, Nurnberg, Germany
 
|-
 
|-
−
||[[Bilora Bella]]||Tower 5 (127 film)
+
||  Tower  Reflex III  ||[[pseudo TLR]] || [[Photina Reflex|Photina II]] from [[Photavit]]-Werk GmbH, Nurnberg, Germany
 
|-
 
|-
−
||[[Mfr? Germany]]||Tower 8 (box camera)
+
||  Tower  Reflex 30  ||[[TLR]] || [[Photina Reflex|Photina Reflex IIIb]] from [[Photavit]]-Werk GmbH, Nurnberg, Germany
 
|-
 
|-
−
||[[Mamiya]]||Tower 10A
+
||  Tower  32A || [[SLR]], Exakta/Topcon mount, Mamiya-Sekor f/1.7 lens, (c.1963) || [[Mamiya Prismat NP]]
 
|-
 
|-
−
||[[16mm submini spy cam]]||Tower 16
+
||  Tower  32B || [[SLR]] new rev 32A, split image focus screen, shoe  || [[Mamiya Prismat NP]]
 
|-
 
|-
−
||[[Mamiya]]||Tower 18B
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||  Tower  33 Reflex || [[SLR]] || [[Braun Paxette Reflex]]
 
|-
 
|-
−
||[[Olympus Ace]]-E||Tower 19
+
||  Tower  34      || box camera (?)|| [[Ansco]]
 
|-
 
|-
−
||[[Asahiflex IIB]]||Tower 23
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||  Tower  34 Reflex || 35mm SLR || [[Braun]]
 
|-
 
|-
−
||[[Mamiya-Sekor Lens, Exakta/Topcon mnt?]]||Tower 32B
+
||  Tower  35 || 35mm rangefinder || [[Nicca]] III-S
 
|-
 
|-
−
||[[Braun Paxette Reflex]]||Tower 33 Reflex
+
||   Tower  37 || 35mm [[SLR]], Exakta mount || [[Mamiya Prismat]]
 
|-
 
|-
−
||[[???]]||Tower 37
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||  Tower  37A ||  35mm SLR, budget Sears 32A but with 1/500 shutter and f/2.8 lens|| [[Mamiya Prismat NP]]
 
|-
 
|-
−
||[[???]]||Tower 39 - very odd
+
||  Tower  37B ||  35mm SLR|| [[Mamiya Prismat NP]]
 
|-
 
|-
−
||[[???]]||Sears 39 - very odd
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||   [[Tower  39]]
 +
|| (c.1961) odd horizontal design with flash reflector; autoexposure.<br/>Tower 41 similar. || Mamiya Automatic 35 EEF
 
|-
 
|-
−
||[[Tougodo 4&times;4 TLR|Toyoca-44]]||[[Tougodo 4&times;4 TLR|Tower 44]]
+
||   [[Tower  41]] ||  1962 || [[Mamiya]]
 
|-
 
|-
−
||[[Halma 44]]||Tower 44B
+
||  Tower  42  ||  1954 || [[Nicca]]
 
|-
 
|-
−
||[[Nicca 5L f:2]]||Tower 45
+
||  Tower  43  ||  1954 || [[Nicca]]
 
|-
 
|-
−
||[[Nicca f:1.4]]||Tower 46
+
|| [[Tougodo 4×4 TLR|Tower 44]] || [[TLR]] || [[Tougodo 4×4 TLR|Toyoca-44]]
 
|-
 
|-
−
||[[Iloca]] Rapid||Tower 50
+
||  Tower  44B Super Matic ||[[TLR]] || [[Halma 44]]
 
|-
 
|-
−
||Iloca Rapid B||Tower 51
+
||   Tower  45 ||  35mm range finder, f/2 lens|| [[Nicca]] 5L
 
|-
 
|-
−
||Iloca Rapid IIL||Tower 52
+
||   Tower  46 ||  f/1.4 || [[Nicca]]
 
|-
 
|-
−
||Ising [[Pucky]] I||Tower 120 Flash
+
||   [[Tower  50]] || 35mm viewfinder || [[Iloca Quick| Iloca Quick-L / Quick-R]], [[Vero]] Shutter, [[Steinheil|Cassar]] lens
 
|-
 
|-
−
||[[Busch 4x5 Pressman]]||Tower 4x5 Pressman
+
||   Tower  50 || 120 [[folding]] ||[[Rollex 20]] ca. 1950 [[United States Camera|USC]]
 
|-
 
|-
−
||Ricoh 126 C Automatic||[[Sears Easi-Load FC 600]]
+
||   Tower  51 || 120 [[folding]]  
 +
|| [[Conley|Conley Camera Company]] 1955
 
|-
 
|-
−
||[[Mamiya]] ???||Tower Automatic 35
+
||   Tower  51
 +
||(not folding 120, but [[35mm]]) LH film advance. Also RH film advance model, also knob advance version all called Tower 51
 +
|| [[Iloca Rapid B]] [[Steinheil]] Cassar lens 50mm f/2.8 made in Germany by Kamerawerke Wilhelm Witt, Hamburg, Germany
 
|-
 
|-
−
||[[Nicca]] III||Tower Type 3
+
||  Tower  52 || 35mm || [[Iloca Rapid IIL]]
 
|-
 
|-
−
||[[Nicca, Leotax?]]||Tower Type 3S
+
||  Tower  53 ||  || [[Iloca]], 1955
 
|-
 
|-
−
||[[Ansco]] Marvel S-20||???
+
||  Tower  53B ||  || [[Iloca]], 1955
 
|-
 
|-
−
||[[Reflecta]]||Trumpfreflex
+
||  Tower  54 ||  || [[Olympus]]
 
|-
 
|-
−
||[[???]]||Sears Model 65
+
||   Tower  55 || 35mm, two versions, later one with bigger viewfinder || [[Rippa]] ([[Yamato]])
 
|-
 
|-
−
||[[???]]||Sears Model 600 Easi load FC (flash Cube) Instamatic
+
||  Tower  55B || Color Luna Lens 45mm f3.5 || [[Pax Jr]] ([[Yamato]])
−
||
+
|-
 +
||  Tower  57 || 35mm || [[Samoca 35 M-28]] (AKA Hanimex A35)
 +
|-
 +
||  Tower  57A || [[35mm]] rangefinder|| [[Samoca LE-II]]
 +
|-
 +
||  Tower  60 || 120 folder|| [[Dacora I]]
 +
|-
 +
||  Tower Reflex 64 || [[TLR]] Tower Reflex no meter || [[Walz]]
 +
|-
 +
||  Tower Reflex 65 || [[TLR]] Tower Reflex with meter || [[Walz]]
 +
|-
 +
||  Tower 83 || [[35mm]] [[Stereo]] || [[Iloca Stereo II|Iloca  Stereo IIa]] 1955-57
 +
|-
 +
||  Tower Flash 120    || 120 || [[Bilora]] box
 +
|-
 +
||  Tower 127 ||  || [[Mamiya]] ??
 +
|-
 +
||  [[Tower Press Camera]] ||  4×5  || [[Busch Pressman Model D|Busch 4x5 Pressman]]
 +
|-
 +
||  Tower Automatic 35 ||  || [[Mamiya]] ???
 +
|-
 +
||  [[Tower Automatic  127]]  || 4&times;4 autoexposure || [[USC Tri-Matic Electric Eye 127|Electric Eye 127]] from [[United States Camera|USC]]
 +
|-
 +
||  [[Tower 127 Automatic II]]  || 4&times;4 autoexposure ||  [[United States Camera|USC]]
 +
|-
 +
||  [[Tower Camflash 127]] || also Camflash II 127 ||  [[Comet 127]] from  [[United States Camera|USC]]
 +
|-
 +
||  Tower Colorette ||[[Rangefinder camera|Rangefinder]]  || Braun Super Colorette
 +
|-
 +
||  Tower Companion  || 1960 || [[Imperial]], similar to [[Imperial Debonair|Debonair]]
 +
|-
 +
||  Tower Hide Away    ||  || same as [[Imperial Mark 27]]
 +
|-
 +
|| [[Tower One-Twenty Flash]] || box camera that uses 120 film
 +
|-
 +
||  Tower Phantom
 +
|-
 +
||  Tower Pixie 127    || plastic 4&times;4 cm  || same as [[Imperial Lark]]
 +
|-
 +
||  Tower Pixie II 127    || plastic 4&times;4 cm  ||
 +
|-
 +
||  Tower Reflex 1 ||[[box camera]] 120  || Probably [[Bilora]]
 +
|-
 +
||  Tower Skipper      ||127 brownie box size, made in USA      || [[Mercury Satellite 127]]
 +
|-
 +
||  Tower Snappy ||620 plastic box || [[Imperial Savoy]]
 +
|-
 +
||  Tower Stereo ||35mm Stereo  || [[Iloca]] Stereo IIa
 +
|-
 +
||  Tower Synchroflash ||  || [[Bilora Bella]]
 +
|-
 +
||  Tower Type 3 ||  || [[Nicca]] III
 +
|-
 +
||  Tower Type 3S ||  || [[Nicca]], [[Leotax]]?
 +
|-
 +
||   Trumpfreflex || 6x6 TLR || [[Reflecta]] (Richter Reflecta)
 
|}
 
|}
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Several Tower cameras were also made by [[Bilora]]. '''Sears''' lenses for SLRs were made by [[Ricoh]]. [[Conley]] was a partner of Sears & Roebuck. In 1924 Conley was owned by Sears, and bought [[Seneca]]. But the Seneca brand disappeared in 1926. In 1980 Sears, Roebuck and Co. was restructured and rebranded to '''Sears''' Merchandise Group.
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==Links==
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{{brr}}
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{{Flickr_image
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|image_source= http://www.flickr.com/photos/deposit25cents/3759992334/in/pool-1618922@N23/
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|image= http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2646/3759992334_e2fe58c334_m.jpg
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|image_align= right
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|image_text= Seroco Camera
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|image_by= realbruts!
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|image_rights= (C)
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}}
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* [http://www.collection-appareils.fr/general/html/liste9_imagettes.php#Sears Sears Cameras] at www.collection-appareils.fr (in French) (error page as of 1-2022)
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* [http://www.butkus.org/chinon/sears.htm Sears camera manuals, PDF format, many in color] at www.orphancameras.com
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* [https://butkus.org/chinon/catalogs_photo.htm Several Sears Camera Catalogs - 1912 to 1952] at [https://butkus.org/chinon/index.html www.OrphanCameras.com]
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* [http://www.craigcamera.com/research_tower.htm Tower Cameras] at www.craigcamera.com (Craig Camera closed in 2019 as stated on their main page, the web pages are still there.  The entire collecton is for sale as one collection]
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* [http://seroco.blogspot.de/ blog about Seroco Cameras] at blogspot.de
  
 
[[Category: Distributors]]
 
[[Category: Distributors]]
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[[Category: Sears]]
  
 
{{Chicago}}
 
{{Chicago}}

Latest revision as of 17:34, 27 February 2024

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Sears, Roebuck & Company Mail Order Building in L.A.
image by Mark Peacock (Image rights)
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Sears Camera Catalog 1956
image by Martin Fox (Image rights)


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Sears Tower
image by Nick Roquet (Image rights)
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Tower 7
Picture by Mark Anderson (Image rights)

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Tower 120 Flash
Picture by John Kratz (Image rights)
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Tower 57
Picture by Jimmy Smith (Image rights)
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Tower Snappy
Picture by Eduardo Urdangaray (Image rights)
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Tower Camflash 127
Picture by John Kratz (Image rights)
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Tower Flash 120
made by Bilora.
Picture by Inspiredphotos (Image rights)
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Tower 44B
Picture by rebollo_fr (Image rights)
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Tower Hide Away
picture by Carrie Little (Image rights)
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Sears car
picture by Uwe Kulick (Image rights)
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Sears Tower 83 Stereo
image by Pablo Coronel (Image rights)

Sears is the most famous mail order house in the world since its Chicago building Sears Tower was the highest in the world for a certain period. In the U.S.A. it was the greatest mail-order and retail vendor of consumer goods. It was founded by Richard W. Sears in 1886, starting as a reseller of watches in North Redwood, Minnesota. In 1887 Sears moved to Chicago and employed Alvah C. Roebuck as watch- and toolmaker. In 1893 Roebuck became partner in the company which then was renamed Sears, Roebuck & Co..

Like other great mail-order houses Sears had a house-brand for cameras, the Tower cameras which were all OEM products, made by different renowned camera makers of several countries. Some cameras were sold branded Sears, and a few under their original manufacturers. In the 1930s and 1940s Sears also had another house brand, Marvel, which was used on several camera models as well as a wide range of other photographic products.

Several Tower cameras were also made by Bilora, Pentax, Iloca, etc. Sears lenses for SLRs were made by Ricoh. Conley was a partner of Sears & Roebuck. In 1924 Conley was owned by Sears, and bought Seneca. But the Seneca brand disappeared in 1926.

In 1980 Sears, Roebuck and Co. was restructured and rebranded to Sears Merchandise Group. After several years of growth, Sears couldn't compete with Walmart and other value chains and it was sold to K-Mart in 2004. By 2021 Sears is a shadow of a former self, closing thousands of stores and surviving in few places.

Distributed cameras

Sears name Description Original camera/manufacturer　 Launch date
Marvel (127) Rebranded Acro Model R Acro
Marvel "27" Name variant of The Chicago Cluster 127 cameras The Chicago Cluster
Marvel S-20 brownie type box Made for and sold by Sears as an Ansco Ansco
Marvel Box Camera Rebranded Ansco Shur Shot Ansco
Marvel-flex 6×6 TLR, c.1941, rebranded Ciro-Flex A Ciro
Sears 65 35mm viewfinder Halina Paulette
Sears 126 TLS Reflex 126 film SLR Ricoh 126c-Flex TLS
Sears 3A box camera 3.25x5.25 Kodak V122 film Conley Kewpie No. 3A
Sears 32B SLR, Exakta-mount interchangeable lenses, c.1961 aka Tower 32B Mamiya Prismat NP
Sears 35rf 35mm rangefinder Ricoh 500 RF
Sears 35|RF 35mm rangefinder Ricoh 500 G
Sears Auto 35TL 35mm SLR Mamiya 528TL
Sears Auto CS 1000MX 35mm SLR Mamiya NC 1000
Sears Auto CS 1000MXB 35mm SLR, black body Mamiya NC 1000
Sears Easi-Load FC 600 126 cartridges flash cube Instamatic Ricoh 126C Automatic
Sears Easi-Load Auto 600 126 cartridges flash cube Instamatic Ricoh 126C Auto CdS
Sears Easi-Load 700 RF 126 cartridges flash cube Instamatic Ricoh 126C Deluxe
Sears ES 35 Electronic 35mm rangefinder Ricoh Super Shot
Sears FF35 35mm viewfinder Haking Halina Speedy 33
Sears Flip-Flash 110
Sears KS Auto 35mm SLR Ricoh XR-2s
Sears KS-1 35mm SLR Ricoh XR-6
Sears KS Super 35mm SLR, KS-1 with slower speed (1/500s) Ricoh XR-6
Sears KS Super II 35mm SLR, KS Super without Bulb Ricoh XR-6
Sears KS-2 35mm SLR Ricoh XR-7
Sears KS 1000 35mm SLR Ricoh XR-1, XR-1s
Sears KS 500 35mm SLR Ricoh KR-5 / XR-500
Sears KSX-1000 35mm SLR Ricoh KR-5 Super
Sears KSX 35mm SLR Ricoh KR-10 / XR-1000s
Sears KSX Super 35mm SLR Ricoh KR-10 Super / XR-2000
Sears KSX-P 35mm SLR (Dual2 Program) Chinon CP-5
Sears M35af 35mm AF compact Ricoh AF-2?
Sears M35 Autofocus 35mm AF compact Ricoh AF-5?
Sears Model 65 35mm viewfinder Halina Paulette
Sears Model 65 RF Halinar 45mm f2.8 lens Halina
Sears RF 5 Ricoh
Sears RF 7 35mm rangefinder Ricoh
Sears SL-9 35mm SLR, leaf shutter Ricoh 35 Flex
Sears SL-11 35mm SLR Ricoh Singlex or Ricoh Singlex TLS 1965/Spring-Summer
Sears TLS 35mm SLR Ricoh Singlex TLS 1966/Christmas
Sears TLS 500 MX 35mm SLR Ricoh SLX 500
Sears TLS 1000 MX 35mm SLR Mamiya MSX 1000
Seroco Junior 4×5 Conley Model VII
Tower No. 1 Pseudo TLR unknown
Tower 5 127 film Bilora Bella
Tower 7 120 film Brownie type box Germany (Bilora)
Tower 8 box camera Mfr? Germany
Tower 10A 35mm range finder, 48mm f/2.8 coated Mamiya 35 Ruby
Tower 10B 35mm range finder Mamiya 4B RF
Tower 14 pseudo-TLR box Bilora Bonita 66
Tower 16 16mm submini spy cam Mamiya 16
Tower 18 4.2cm f/2.8 Olympus 35-S
Tower 18A 35mm rangefinder f/1.9 Mamiya 35 Ruby
Tower 18B 35mm rangefinder Mamiya 35 Ruby Standard
Tower 19 35mm interchangeable lens rangefinder Olympus Ace E
Tower 20 Olympus Wide-E?
Tower 20B RF 48mm f/1.7 Mamiya
Tower 22 SLR Asahiflex IIA
Tower 23 SLR Asahiflex IA and Asahiflex IIB
Tower 24 SLR Asahiflex IIB
Tower 25 TLR Aires Automat (Nikkor lens) 1955/Spring-Summer
Tower 26 35mm SLR Asahi Pentax (original) and Pentax S
Tower 27 TLR 1955/Spring-Summer
Tower 29 35mm SLR Asahi Pentax K
Tower Reflex I or Tower 120 Flash pseudo TLR Ising Pucky I
Tower Reflex II pseudo TLR Photina from Photavit-Werk GmbH, Nurnberg, Germany
Tower Reflex III pseudo TLR Photina II from Photavit-Werk GmbH, Nurnberg, Germany
Tower Reflex 30 TLR Photina Reflex IIIb from Photavit-Werk GmbH, Nurnberg, Germany
Tower 32A SLR, Exakta/Topcon mount, Mamiya-Sekor f/1.7 lens, (c.1963) Mamiya Prismat NP
Tower 32B SLR new rev 32A, split image focus screen, shoe Mamiya Prismat NP
Tower 33 Reflex SLR Braun Paxette Reflex
Tower 34 box camera (?) Ansco
Tower 34 Reflex 35mm SLR Braun
Tower 35 35mm rangefinder Nicca III-S
Tower 37 35mm SLR, Exakta mount Mamiya Prismat
Tower 37A 35mm SLR, budget Sears 32A but with 1/500 shutter and f/2.8 lens Mamiya Prismat NP
Tower 37B 35mm SLR Mamiya Prismat NP
Tower 39 (c.1961) odd horizontal design with flash reflector; autoexposure.
Tower 41 similar.		 Mamiya Automatic 35 EEF
Tower 41 1962 Mamiya
Tower 42 1954 Nicca
Tower 43 1954 Nicca
Tower 44 TLR Toyoca-44
Tower 44B Super Matic TLR Halma 44
Tower 45 35mm range finder, f/2 lens Nicca 5L
Tower 46 f/1.4 Nicca
Tower 50 35mm viewfinder Iloca Quick-L / Quick-R, Vero Shutter, Cassar lens
Tower 50 120 folding Rollex 20 ca. 1950 USC
Tower 51 120 folding Conley Camera Company 1955
Tower 51 (not folding 120, but 35mm) LH film advance. Also RH film advance model, also knob advance version all called Tower 51 Iloca Rapid B Steinheil Cassar lens 50mm f/2.8 made in Germany by Kamerawerke Wilhelm Witt, Hamburg, Germany
Tower 52 35mm Iloca Rapid IIL
Tower 53 Iloca, 1955
Tower 53B Iloca, 1955
Tower 54 Olympus
Tower 55 35mm, two versions, later one with bigger viewfinder Rippa (Yamato)
Tower 55B Color Luna Lens 45mm f3.5 Pax Jr (Yamato)
Tower 57 35mm Samoca 35 M-28 (AKA Hanimex A35)
Tower 57A 35mm rangefinder Samoca LE-II
Tower 60 120 folder Dacora I
Tower Reflex 64 TLR Tower Reflex no meter Walz
Tower Reflex 65 TLR Tower Reflex with meter Walz
Tower 83 35mm Stereo Iloca Stereo IIa 1955-57
Tower Flash 120 120 Bilora box
Tower 127 Mamiya ??
Tower Press Camera 4×5 Busch 4x5 Pressman
Tower Automatic 35 Mamiya ???
Tower Automatic 127 4×4 autoexposure Electric Eye 127 from USC
Tower 127 Automatic II 4×4 autoexposure USC
Tower Camflash 127 also Camflash II 127 Comet 127 from USC
Tower Colorette Rangefinder Braun Super Colorette
Tower Companion 1960 Imperial, similar to Debonair
Tower Hide Away same as Imperial Mark 27
Tower One-Twenty Flash box camera that uses 120 film
Tower Phantom
Tower Pixie 127 plastic 4×4 cm same as Imperial Lark
Tower Pixie II 127 plastic 4×4 cm
Tower Reflex 1 box camera 120 Probably Bilora
Tower Skipper 127 brownie box size, made in USA Mercury Satellite 127
Tower Snappy 620 plastic box Imperial Savoy
Tower Stereo 35mm Stereo Iloca Stereo IIa
Tower Synchroflash Bilora Bella
Tower Type 3 Nicca III
Tower Type 3S Nicca, Leotax?
Trumpfreflex 6x6 TLR Reflecta (Richter Reflecta)

Links


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Seroco Camera
image by realbruts! (Image rights)
Companies of Chicago (Illinois)
Adams & Westlake | Central Camera Co. | American Advertising and Research Co. | Bernard | Burke & James | Busch | Calumet | Candid | Chicago Aerial | Chicago Camera Co. | Chicago Ferrotype Company | Deardorff | De Vry | Drucker | Galter | Geiss | Herold | Imperial | Kemper | Lennor Engineering Co. | Metropolitan Industries | Monarch | Montgomery Ward | Pho-Tak | QRS Company | Rolls | Sans & Streiffe | Sears | Seymour | Spartus | The Camera Man | United States Camera Co. | Western Camera Manufacturing Co. | Yale | Zar | Zenith
Chicago in depth: The Chicago Cluster‎, a bakelite trust?
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