Difference between revisions of "Spartus"

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The '''Utility Manufacturing Company''' was founded in New York in 1934<REF>{{McKeown12}} Pages 941–943</REF>, and offered several camera lines<REF>An [http://www.flickr.com/photos/camerawiki/5520816447/in/pool-1618922@N23/ advertisement from May 1940] gives the address of Utility Manufacturing Co., Inc. as 40 West 25th St., New York NY.</REF>, including [[folding camera]]s and [[box camera]]s. But it is most associated with the brand '''Falcon''' and a line of "half frame" 3&times;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]].
 
  
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In 1941 Utility was bought by Spartus Corp., and moved West to Chicago, Illinois<REF>For example, [http://www.flickr.com/photos/waviolette/3713840682/ here] is a Falcon minicam branded "Utility Mfg. Co., Chicago U.S.A.," from [http://www.flickr.com/photos/waviolette/ Wayne Violette] on Flickr.</REF> Previous and new model lines then appeared under the branding '''Spartus'''.  Many of the cameras were molded plastic with distinctive styling.
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The related companies '''Utility Mfg. Co..''', '''Spartus''', and '''Herold''' created a great many inexpensive camera models, sold under a dizzying array of brands, from the 1930s into the 1960s. The Chicago brand '''Spartus''' is at the center of this constellation, and this page tries to summarize these companies' history and camera models.
  
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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 Manufacturing Company|Monarck]], [[Falcon|Falcon Camera Co.]], [[Spencer]] and others. (In some 1940s advertising, "The Spencer Company" is given as the distributor of Spartus cameras.<REF>''Popular Photography'' magazine, August 1947 (Vol. 21, No. 2); Spartus advertisement page 12.</REF>)
 
  
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In 1951 Spartus' head of sales, Harold Rubin, bought the company and renamed it '''Herold Mfg. Co.''' while continuing to brand cameras as Spartus<REF>The Herold Products manual for the [http://www.cameramanuals.org/pdf_files/spartus_620_reflex.pdf Spartus 620] shows an address of 2110 W. Walnut, Chicago. The Spartus address of 715 W. Lake St. is a couple of miles east of this.</REF>. 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.
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==A tangled history==
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The '''Utility Manufacturing Company''' was founded in New York in 1934<REF>{{McKeown12}} Pages 941–943</REF>, and offered several camera lines<REF>An [http://www.flickr.com/photos/camerawiki/5520816447/in/pool-camerawiki advertisement from May 1940] gives the address of Utility Manufacturing Co., Inc. as 40 West 25th St., New York NY.</REF>, including [[folding camera]]s and [[box camera]]s. Its main camera brand was '''Falcon,''' a name particularly associated with a line of "half frame" 3&times;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<REF>For example, [http://www.flickr.com/photos/waviolette/3713840682/ here] is a Falcon minicam branded "Utility Mfg. Co., Chicago U.S.A.," from [http://www.flickr.com/photos/waviolette/ Wayne Violette] on Flickr.</REF>. Spartus was one of several companies owned by successful Chicago businessman [[Jack Galter]], who also manufactured clocks and razors. The new Spartus address was 711 West Lake Street, Chicago<REF name="Spart8-47">[http://www.flickr.com/photos/camerawiki/6071371253/in/pool-camerawiki Spartus advertisement], ''Popular Photography'' magazine, August 1947 (Vol. 21, No. 2) page 12.</REF>, an address where the [[Monarck|Monarck/Monarch]] company had been producing cameras before WWII<REF>[http://www.flickr.com/photos/camerawiki/5534049716/in/pool-camerawiki Monarck ad] in the June 1940 Popular Photography (Vol. 6, No. 6), page 107.</REF>. Previous and new camera lines then appeared under the branding '''Spartus'''<REF>An example is [http://www.flickr.com/photos/camerawiki/6071909844/in/pool-camerawiki this November 1946 ad] from ''Popular Photography'' (Vol. 19, No. 5) page 31.  The Spartus camera brand certainly was used following WWII, but perhaps earlier.</REF>.  Many of these models were molded plastic with distinctive styling.
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The address 711–715 W. Lake St. in Chicago. is at the center of a confusing cluster of camera brands.  These include [[Monarck Manufacturing Company|Monarck]], Spartus, [[Galter]],  [[Falcon|Falcon Camera Co.]], [[Spencer]] and others. (In some 1940s Spartus advertising, "The Spencer Company" is given as the distributor of Spartus cameras<REF name="Spart8-47" />.)
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Several Spartus models are seen with president Jack Galter's branding "[[Galter|Galter Products Co]]." In 1951 Spartus' head of sales, Harold Rubin, bought the company and renamed it '''Herold Mfg. Co.''' while continuing to brand cameras as Spartus<REF>The Herold Products manual for the [http://www.cameramanuals.org/pdf_files/spartus_620_reflex.pdf Spartus 620] shows an address of 2110 W. Walnut, Chicago. The Spartus address of 715 W. Lake St. is a couple of miles east of this.</REF>. This company also produced razors and clocks<REF>An [http://books.google.com/books?id=fD8EAAAAMBAJ&lpg=PA56&ots=jH5MQQynIO&dq=Spartus%20clock%20Chicago%20history%20-gilbert&pg=PA56#v=onepage&q&f=false advertisement from December 1955] promotes the Spartus Full-Vue camera, a Spartus clock, and an electric razor (''Life'' magazine Dec 12, 1955; Vol. 39, No. 24; page 56).</REF>; in fact Spartus clocks outlived cameras as the company's main product. Around 1960 the Herold Mfg. Co. returned to the name Spartus Corporation.
  
 
==Cameras==
 
==Cameras==
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{{Flickr_image
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|image_source= http://www.flickr.com/photos/nesster/8130732382/in/pool-camerawiki
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|image= http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8192/8130732382_930bf4a15c.jpg
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|image_align= right
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|image_text= 1938 ad
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|scan_by= Nesster
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|image_rights= commercial
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}}
 
=== New York: Utility Mfg. Co. ===
 
=== New York: Utility Mfg. Co. ===
−
 
 
*  Carlton Reflex
 
*  Carlton Reflex
 
* [[Falcon (Bakelite)]] with metal lens mount surround
 
* [[Falcon (Bakelite)]] with metal lens mount surround
 +
* [[Falcon Super-Action Candid|Falcon Super-Action Candid, Model F & Model FE]]
 +
* [[Falcon Super-Action Candid|Falcon Super.Action Candid, Model G & Model GE]]
 
* [[Falcon (folding)]]
 
* [[Falcon (folding)]]
 
* [[Falcon Flex]]
 
* [[Falcon Flex]]
 
* [[Falcon Junior (folding bakelite)]]
 
* [[Falcon Junior (folding bakelite)]]
 
*  Falcon Junior 16 (Box)
 
*  Falcon Junior 16 (Box)
 +
*  [[Falcon Magni-Vue]] (pseudo TLR)
 
*  Falcon Midget 16 (box)
 
*  Falcon Midget 16 (box)
 
*  Falcon Minette
 
*  Falcon Minette
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* [[Falcon Minicam Senior]]
 
* [[Falcon Minicam Senior]]
 
*  Falcon Model Four
 
*  Falcon Model Four
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{{Flickr_image
 
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|image_source= http://www.flickr.com/photos/captkodak/272735004/in/pool-camerawiki
 
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|image= http://farm1.static.flickr.com/106/272735004_0b99b60dd3.jpg
 
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|image_align= right
 
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|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.
 
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|image_by=Steve Harwood
 
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|image_rights=non-commercial
 
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}}
 
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* [[Falcon (Bakelite)|Falcom Model F & Model FE]]
 
−
* [[Falcon (Bakelite)|Falcon Model G & Model GE]]
 
 
* [[Falcon Model V-16]]
 
* [[Falcon Model V-16]]
 
* [[Spartus Press Flash|Falcon Press Flash]]
 
* [[Spartus Press Flash|Falcon Press Flash]]
 
* [[Falcon Rocket]]
 
* [[Falcon Rocket]]
−
*   Falcon Special
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* [[Falcon Super-Action Candid|The Falcon Special]]
 
* [[Spartus Press Flash|Falcon-Abbey Electricamera]]
 
* [[Spartus Press Flash|Falcon-Abbey Electricamera]]
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* Parex Reflex
  
 
=== Chicago: Spartus ===
 
=== Chicago: Spartus ===
−
 
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* [[Cinex]] (Chicago)
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*   Cinex
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* [[Spartaflex]]
 
* [[Spartus Box Cameras]] for 116, 116/616, 120, and 620 film
 
* [[Spartus Box Cameras]] for 116, 116/616, 120, and 620 film
 
* [[Spartus 120 Flash]] Camera (bakelite)
 
* [[Spartus 120 Flash]] Camera (bakelite)
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* [[Spartus Full-Vue]]
 
* [[Spartus Full-Vue]]
 
* [[Spartus Press Flash]]
 
* [[Spartus Press Flash]]
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{{Flickr_image
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|image_source= http://www.flickr.com/photos/90900361@N08/34760301800/in/pool-camerawiki
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|image= http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4252/34760301800_d0bf8d67d5_n.jpg
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|image_align= right
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|image_text=
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|image_by= Geoff Harrisson
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|image_rights= wp
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}}
 
* [[Spartus Rocket]] (1960s)
 
* [[Spartus Rocket]] (1960s)
 
* [[Spartus Six Twenty]]
 
* [[Spartus Six Twenty]]
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* [[Spartus Spartaflex]]
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* [[Spartus Super R-I]]
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* [[ Spartus Super R-I]]
 
 
* [[Spartus Vanguard]]
 
* [[Spartus Vanguard]]
 
*  Spartus Vest Pocket (folding)
 
*  Spartus Vest Pocket (folding)
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 +
===Chicago: Herold Mfg.===
 +
*Other Herold models that did not use Spartus brand?
 +
*Acro-Flash
 +
*Herold 40
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*Photo Master
  
 
==Notes==
 
==Notes==
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==Links==
 
==Links==
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* [http://www.onetwoseven.org.uk/cameras/spartus/ Spartus] at  [http://www.onetwoseven.org.uk OneTwoSeven.org]
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* [http://twisted.org.uk/~moondog/127/cameras/spartus Spartus] at  [http://twisted.org.uk/~moondog/127/ OneTwoSeven.org]
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* [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
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* [http://www.butkus.org/chinon/other_manuals.htm Various Spartus PDF Instruction Manuals] from [http://www.butkus.org/chinon/ OrphanCameras.com] listed alphabetically.
 +
* [http://www.butkus.org/chinon/falcon/falcon_cameras/falcon_cameras.htm Falcon folding camera instruction manual in PDF format (English)] from [http://www.butkus.org/chinon/ OrphanCameras.com]
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* [https://www.flickr.com/photos/camerawiki/52399670810/in/pool-camerawiki/ Spartus cameras] (from "The Spencer Company") advertised in the July, 1948 ''Popular Photography'' magazine.
  
  

Latest revision as of 16:18, 2 October 2022

See The Chicago Cluster for more probably-related cameras and "companies"
881564704_fe7fa5f081.jpg
Falcon Miniature
image by John Kratz (Image rights)

The related companies Utility Mfg. Co.., Spartus, and Herold created a great many inexpensive camera models, sold under a dizzying array of brands, from the 1930s into the 1960s. The Chicago brand Spartus is at the center of this constellation, and this page tries to summarize these companies' history and camera models.


A tangled history

The Utility Manufacturing Company was founded in New York in 1934[1], and offered several camera lines[2], including folding cameras and box cameras. Its main camera brand was Falcon, a name particularly associated with 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]. Spartus was one of several companies owned by successful Chicago businessman Jack Galter, who also manufactured clocks and razors. The new Spartus address was 711 West Lake Street, Chicago[4], an address where the Monarck/Monarch company had been producing cameras before WWII[5]. Previous and new camera lines then appeared under the branding Spartus[6]. Many of these models were molded plastic with distinctive styling.

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

Several Spartus models are seen with president Jack Galter's branding "Galter Products Co." In 1951 Spartus' head of sales, Harold Rubin, bought the company and renamed it Herold Mfg. Co. while continuing to brand cameras as Spartus[7]. This company also produced razors and clocks[8]; in fact Spartus clocks outlived cameras as the company's main product. Around 1960 the Herold Mfg. Co. returned to the name Spartus Corporation.

Cameras

8130732382_930bf4a15c.jpg
1938 ad scanned by Nesster  (Image rights)

New York: Utility Mfg. Co.

Chicago: Spartus

34760301800_d0bf8d67d5_n.jpg
image by Geoff Harrisson (Image rights)

Chicago: Herold Mfg.

  • Other Herold models that did not use Spartus brand?
  • Acro-Flash
  • Herold 40
  • Photo Master

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. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Spartus advertisement, Popular Photography magazine, August 1947 (Vol. 21, No. 2) page 12.
  5. ↑ Monarck ad in the June 1940 Popular Photography (Vol. 6, No. 6), page 107.
  6. ↑ An example is this November 1946 ad from Popular Photography (Vol. 19, No. 5) page 31. The Spartus camera brand certainly was used following WWII, but perhaps earlier.
  7. ↑ The Herold Products manual for the Spartus 620 shows an address of 2110 W. Walnut, Chicago. The Spartus address of 715 W. Lake St. is a couple of miles east of this.
  8. ↑ An advertisement from December 1955 promotes the Spartus Full-Vue camera, a Spartus clock, and an electric razor (Life magazine Dec 12, 1955; Vol. 39, No. 24; page 56).

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?
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