Difference between revisions of "Spartus"

From Camera-wiki.org
Jump to: navigation, search
(Spartus: Have found an error; No. 4 is 120 film—does No. 1 exist?)
(rearranging camera sections into chronological/city order; photo caption clarified)
Line 15: Line 15:
 
In 1951 Spartus' head of sales, Harold Rubin, bought the company and renamed it '''Herold Mfg. Co.''' while continuing to brand cameras as Spartus. Around this time, former Spartus president Jack Galter briefly sold some former Spartus models through his [[Galter|Galter Products Co]]. Around 1960 the Herold Mfg. Co. returned to the name Spartus Corporation.
 
In 1951 Spartus' head of sales, Harold Rubin, bought the company and renamed it '''Herold Mfg. Co.''' while continuing to brand cameras as Spartus. Around this time, former Spartus president Jack Galter briefly sold some former Spartus models through his [[Galter|Galter Products Co]]. Around 1960 the Herold Mfg. Co. returned to the name Spartus Corporation.
  
 +
==Cameras==
 +
=== New York: Utility Mfg. Co. ===
  
==Cameras==
+
*  Carlton Reflex
=== Spartus ===
+
* [[Falcon (Bakelite)]]
 +
* [[Falcon (folding)]]
 +
* [[Falcon Flex]]
 +
* [[Falcon Junior (folding bakelite)]]
 +
*  Falcon Junior 16 (Box)
 +
*  Falcon Midget 16 (box)
 +
*  Falcon Minette
 +
* [[Falcon Miniature]]
 +
* [[Falcon Minicam Junior]]
 +
* [[Falcon Minicam Senior]]
 +
*  Falcon Model Four
 
{{Flickr_image
 
{{Flickr_image
 
|image_source= http://www.flickr.com/photos/captkodak/272735004/in/pool-camerawiki
 
|image_source= http://www.flickr.com/photos/captkodak/272735004/in/pool-camerawiki
 
|image= http://farm1.static.flickr.com/106/272735004_0b99b60dd3.jpg
 
|image= http://farm1.static.flickr.com/106/272735004_0b99b60dd3.jpg
 
|image_align= right
 
|image_align= right
|image_text= Regal Flash Master, remarkable bakelite<br/>compact design with flash, 1939 by<br/>Utility Manufacturing. Also sold as<br/>[[Spartus Press Flash]], Falcon Press<br/>Flash and [[Galter]] Press Flash.
+
|image_text= Distinctive Regal Flash Master,<br/>originated 1939 as Falcon Press Flash by<br/>Utility Manufacturing Co. Also sold as<br/>[[Spartus Press Flash]] & [[Galter]] Press Flash.
 
|image_by=Steve Harwood
 
|image_by=Steve Harwood
 
|image_rights=non-commercial
 
|image_rights=non-commercial
 
}}
 
}}
 +
* [[Falcon (Bakelite)|Falcom Model F & Model FE]]
 +
* [[Falcon (Bakelite)|Falcon Model G & Model GE]]
 +
*  Falcon Model V-16
 +
* [[Spartus Press Flash|Falcon Press Flash]]
 +
* [[Falcon Rocket]]
 +
*  Falcon Special
 +
* [[Spartus Press Flash|Falcon-Abbey Electricamera]]==Cameras==
 +
 +
=== Chicago: Spartus ===
 +
 
*  Cinex
 
*  Cinex
 
* [[Spartus Box Cameras]] for 116, 116/616, 120, and 620 film, including "Rocket"
 
* [[Spartus Box Cameras]] for 116, 116/616, 120, and 620 film, including "Rocket"
Line 42: Line 64:
 
*  Spartus Vest Pocket (folding)
 
*  Spartus Vest Pocket (folding)
  
=== Utility Mfg. Co. ===
 
  
*  Carlton Reflex
 
* [[Falcon (Bakelite)]]
 
* [[Falcon (folding)]]
 
* [[Falcon Flex]]
 
* [[Falcon Junior (folding bakelite)]]
 
*  Falcon Junior 16 (Box)
 
*  Falcon Midget 16 (box)
 
*  Falcon Minette
 
* [[Falcon Miniature]]
 
* [[Falcon Minicam Junior]]
 
* [[Falcon Minicam Senior]]
 
*  Falcon Model Four
 
* [[Falcon (Bakelite)|Falcom Model F & Model FE]]
 
* [[Falcon (Bakelite)|Falcon Model G & Model GE]]
 
*  Falcon Model V-16
 
* [[Spartus Press Flash|Falcon Press Flash]]
 
* [[Falcon Rocket]]
 
*  Falcon Special
 
* [[Spartus Press Flash|Falcon-Abbey Electricamera]]
 
  
 
==Notes==
 
==Notes==
Line 70: Line 72:
 
* [http://www.onetwoseven.org.uk/cameras/spartus/ Spartus] at  [http://www.onetwoseven.org.uk OneTwoSeven.org]
 
* [http://www.onetwoseven.org.uk/cameras/spartus/ Spartus] at  [http://www.onetwoseven.org.uk OneTwoSeven.org]
 
* [http://www.collection-appareils.fr/general/html/liste5_imagettes.php#Herold Herold cameras], [http://www.collection-appareils.fr/general/html/liste10_imagettes.php#Spartus Spartus cameras] and [http://www.collection-appareils.fr/general/html/liste10_imagettes.php#Utility Utility cameras] at www.collection-appareils.fr
 
* [http://www.collection-appareils.fr/general/html/liste5_imagettes.php#Herold Herold cameras], [http://www.collection-appareils.fr/general/html/liste10_imagettes.php#Spartus Spartus cameras] and [http://www.collection-appareils.fr/general/html/liste10_imagettes.php#Utility Utility cameras] at www.collection-appareils.fr
 +
 +
 +
{{Chicago}}
  
 
[[Category: Camera makers]]
 
[[Category: Camera makers]]
 
[[Category: USA]]
 
[[Category: USA]]
 
{{Chicago}}
 

Revision as of 16:56, 15 August 2011

The Utility Manufacturing Company was founded in New York in 1934[1], and offered several camera lines[2], including folding cameras and box cameras. But it is most associated with the brand Falcon and a line of "half frame" 3×4 cm cameras for 127 film—for example, the Falcon Miniature. These were molded bakelite cameras in an eye-level style quickly becoming popular in other "minicams" of the day, such as the Argus A.

In 1941 Utility was bought by Spartus Corp., and moved West to Chicago, Illinois[3] Previous and new model lines then appeared under the branding Spartus. Many of the cameras were molded plastic with distinctive styling.

Spartus is at the center of a confusing constellation of camera brands, many of which originated from same location at 711–715 W. Lake St. in Chicago. These include Monarck, Falcon Camera Co., Spencer and others. (In some 1940s advertising, "The Spencer Company" is given as the distributor of Spartus cameras.[4])

In 1951 Spartus' head of sales, Harold Rubin, bought the company and renamed it Herold Mfg. Co. while continuing to brand cameras as Spartus. Around this time, former Spartus president Jack Galter briefly sold some former Spartus models through his Galter Products Co. Around 1960 the Herold Mfg. Co. returned to the name Spartus Corporation.

Cameras

New York: Utility Mfg. Co.

Chicago: Spartus


Notes

  1. 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). Pages 941–943
  2. An advertisement from May 1940 gives the address of Utility Manufacturing Co., Inc. as 40 West 25th St., New York NY.
  3. For example, here is a Falcon minicam branded "Utility Mfg. Co., Chicago U.S.A.," from Wayne Violette on Flickr.
  4. Popular Photography magazine, August 1947 (Vol. 21, No. 2); Spartus advertisement page 12.

Links


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?