Difference between revisions of "Spartus Press Flash"

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Introduced as the '''Falcon Press Flash'''<REF>An example can be seen [http://www.flickr.com/photos/totempoleprops/6015385048/in/pool-camerawiki here] (view [http://www.flickr.com/photos/totempoleprops/6015385048/sizes/l/in/pool-camerawiki larger]), from [http://www.flickr.com/photos/totempoleprops/ Totem Pole Playhouse] on Flickr.</REF> and '''Falcon-Abbey Electricamera'''<REF>See the bottom of [http://www.flickr.com/photos/camerawiki/5520816447/sizes/l/in/pool-camerawiki this May, 1940 advertisement] in ''Popular Photography'' magazine (Vol. 6, No. 5; page 57).</REF> by the Utility Manufacturing Company in New York, this was the first camera with built-in flash reflector<REF>{{McKeown12}} Page 943.</REF>. The Abbey branding may relate to another New York company, Abbey Photo Corp., who sold [[flash sync]]hronizers <REF>As seen in a [http://www.flickr.com/photos/camerawiki/6071906644/in/pool-camerawiki January 1940 advertisement] in ''Popular Photography'' (Vo. 6, No. 1) page 88.</REF>. It used old-style Edison screw-base [[flashbulbs|flash bulbs]], and [[120 film]] rolls for exposures 2&frac14;&times;3&frac14;". It had two exposure settings, one for "bright" light and one for "cloudy & flash" situations.  
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Introduced as the '''Falcon Press Flash'''<REF>An example can be seen [http://www.flickr.com/photos/totempoleprops/6015385048/in/pool-camerawiki here] (view [http://www.flickr.com/photos/totempoleprops/6015385048/sizes/l/in/pool-camerawiki larger]), from [http://www.flickr.com/photos/totempoleprops/ Totem Pole Playhouse] on Flickr.</REF> and '''Falcon-Abbey Electricamera'''<REF>See the bottom of [http://www.flickr.com/photos/camerawiki/5520816447/sizes/l/in/pool-camerawiki this May, 1940 advertisement] in ''Popular Photography'' magazine (Vol. 6, No. 5; page 57).</REF> by the Utility Manufacturing Company in New York, this was the first camera with built-in flash reflector<REF>{{McKeown12}} Page 943.</REF>. The Abbey branding may relate to another New York company, Abbey Photo Corp., who sold [[flash sync]]hronizers <REF>As seen in a [http://www.flickr.com/photos/camerawiki/6071906644/in/pool-camerawiki January 1940 advertisement] in ''Popular Photography'' (Vo. 6, No. 1) page 88.</REF>. It used old-style Edison screw-base [[flashbulbs|flash bulbs]], and [[120 film]] rolls for exposures 2&frac14;&times;3&frac14;". It included a 120mm f/11 meniscus lens and an eye-level viewfinder.<ref>"Photography Directory", 1955</ref> It had two exposure settings, one for "bright" light and one for "cloudy & flash" situations.  
  
 
The name changed to [[Spartus]] with the Chicago company's acquisition of Utility. Aside from the cosmetics of the front plate, the same design was marketed from 1939 to 1950 under several names, including  '''Regal Flash Master''', '''Falcon Press Flash''', and '''Galter Press Flash'''<REF>[http://www.flickr.com/photos/peterlerman/5647226611/ This Spartus Press Flash] is labelled with "Mfd. by Galter Prod. Co."; photographed by [[:Category:Image by Peter M Lerman| Peter M Lerman]] on Flickr.</REF>.  
 
The name changed to [[Spartus]] with the Chicago company's acquisition of Utility. Aside from the cosmetics of the front plate, the same design was marketed from 1939 to 1950 under several names, including  '''Regal Flash Master''', '''Falcon Press Flash''', and '''Galter Press Flash'''<REF>[http://www.flickr.com/photos/peterlerman/5647226611/ This Spartus Press Flash] is labelled with "Mfd. by Galter Prod. Co."; photographed by [[:Category:Image by Peter M Lerman| Peter M Lerman]] on Flickr.</REF>.  

Revision as of 16:25, 28 June 2020


Introduced as the Falcon Press Flash[1] and Falcon-Abbey Electricamera[2] by the Utility Manufacturing Company in New York, this was the first camera with built-in flash reflector[3]. The Abbey branding may relate to another New York company, Abbey Photo Corp., who sold flash synchronizers [4]. It used old-style Edison screw-base flash bulbs, and 120 film rolls for exposures 2¼×3¼". It included a 120mm f/11 meniscus lens and an eye-level viewfinder.[5] It had two exposure settings, one for "bright" light and one for "cloudy & flash" situations.

The name changed to Spartus with the Chicago company's acquisition of Utility. Aside from the cosmetics of the front plate, the same design was marketed from 1939 to 1950 under several names, including Regal Flash Master, Falcon Press Flash, and Galter Press Flash[6].

The body was a ribbed bakelite mouldings.

Notes

  1. An example can be seen here (view larger), from Totem Pole Playhouse on Flickr.
  2. See the bottom of this May, 1940 advertisement in Popular Photography magazine (Vol. 6, No. 5; page 57).
  3. 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). Page 943.
  4. As seen in a January 1940 advertisement in Popular Photography (Vo. 6, No. 1) page 88.
  5. "Photography Directory", 1955
  6. This Spartus Press Flash is labelled with "Mfd. by Galter Prod. Co."; photographed by Peter M Lerman on Flickr.



See The Chicago Cluster for more probably-related cameras and "companies"