Difference between revisions of "The Chicago Cluster"
(expanding a bit about multi-"company" marketing by both Utility and Monarch; more pics; more names; still working) |
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In fact, several of these brand names can be linked directly to one particular address: 711–715 West Lake St., Chicago, as noted in period advertisements or the manuals included with cameras. But even where the address is unknown, it seems quite clear that many of the Chicago camera models emerged from exactly the same set of molds, casting doubt on the supposed separate identities of their makers. | In fact, several of these brand names can be linked directly to one particular address: 711–715 West Lake St., Chicago, as noted in period advertisements or the manuals included with cameras. But even where the address is unknown, it seems quite clear that many of the Chicago camera models emerged from exactly the same set of molds, casting doubt on the supposed separate identities of their makers. | ||
| − | Camera-wiki.org has listed several of these "companies" on their own pages. But this article is an effort to consolidate this bewildering swarm of brand and model names into a single page: and to cross-reference body styles with alleged company names, using examples that have been observed on Flickr, eBay and elsewhere. In all cases, these are simple "snapshot" cameras, with the greatest variety being the many models for [[127 film]] in the eye-level "minicam" style | + | Camera-wiki.org has listed several of these "companies" on their own pages. But this article is an effort to consolidate this bewildering swarm of brand and model names into a single page: and to cross-reference body styles with alleged company names, using examples that have been observed on Flickr, eBay and elsewhere. In all cases, these are simple "snapshot" cameras, with the greatest variety being the many models for [[127 film]] in the eye-level "minicam" style which pays homage to the hit 35mm [[Argus A]]. |
==History== | ==History== | ||
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The appearance of the Chicago cameras under a plethora of different names was facilitated by printing all the camera's identifying branding onto a single circular plate which was held to the front of the lens barrel by two screws. | The appearance of the Chicago cameras under a plethora of different names was facilitated by printing all the camera's identifying branding onto a single circular plate which was held to the front of the lens barrel by two screws. | ||
| − | The motivations for creating so many quasi-fictional brands can only be guessed at. Perhaps it was to offer certain distributors a brand that was exclusively theirs. Perhaps it was to avoid negative word-of-mouth over what were, after all, very basic cameras with rudimentary optics. | + | The motivations for creating so many quasi-fictional brands can only be guessed at. Perhaps it was to offer certain distributors a brand that was exclusively theirs. Perhaps it was to avoid negative word-of-mouth over what were, after all, very basic cameras with rudimentary optics. In any case, the same approach would one day be adopted by Hong Kong's manufacturers of cheapie cameras, giving us the many names of the [[Diana]] or the [[Bedfordflex]]. |
==Body styles== | ==Body styles== | ||
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}} | }} | ||
| Graf | | Graf | ||
| − | | Acro-Flash (Herold)<br/>Beauta Miniature<br/>Besta<br/>Brenda Starr Cub Reporter (Seymour)<br/>Churchill<br/>Dasco<br/>Dick Tracy (Seymour)<br/>Falcon Miniature (Falcon)<br/>Flash-Master (Seymour)<br/>Hopalong Cassidy (Galter)<br/>Mar-Crest (Mar-Crest Mfg.)<br/>Pickwik<br/>Remington<br/>Waldorf | + | | Acro-Flash (Herold)<br/>Beauta Miniature<br/>Besta<br/>Brenda Starr Cub Reporter (Seymour)<br/>Churchill<br/>Dasco<br/>Dick Tracy (Seymour)<br/>Falcon Miniature (Falcon)<br/>Falcon Minette (Falcon)<br/>Flash-Master (Seymour)<br/>Hopalong Cassidy (Galter)<br/>Mar-Crest (Mar-Crest Mfg.)<br/>Pickwik<br/>Remington<br/>Sunbeam Minicam (Sunbeam)<br/>Waldorf |
|- | |- | ||
| | | | ||
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}} | }} | ||
|? | |? | ||
| − | |Acro<br/>Acro-Flash (Herold)<br/>Da-Brite | + | |Acro<br/>Acro-Flash (Herold)<br/>Cinex (King Sales)<br/>Da-Brite<br/>Falcon Miniature (Falcon)<br/>Flash-Master (Herold)<br/>Flash-Master (Seymour)<br/>Photo Master<br/>Regal (Galter)<br/>Wit-Eez (Wittie) |
|- | |- | ||
| | | | ||
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| Graf | | Graf | ||
| Falcon Miniature (Utility) | | Falcon Miniature (Utility) | ||
| + | |- | ||
| + | | | ||
| + | {{Flickr_image | ||
| + | |image_source= http://www.flickr.com/photos/ricksoloway/376738413/in/pool-camerawiki | ||
| + | |image= http://farm1.static.flickr.com/172/376738413_1464932171_m.jpg | ||
| + | |image_align= left | ||
| + | |image_text= | ||
| + | |image_by= Rick Soloway | ||
| + | |image_rights= wp | ||
| + | }} | ||
| + | |Graf | ||
| + | |Carlton (Utility)<br/>Falcon Rocket (Falcon)<br/>Majestic (Spencer)<br/>Rocket by Weimet (Weimet)<br/>Sunbeam | ||
|- | |- | ||
| | | | ||
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*Seymour Products Co. (Seymour Sales Co.; Seymore Products Co.) | *Seymour Products Co. (Seymour Sales Co.; Seymore Products Co.) | ||
*H. E. Shaw & Co | *H. E. Shaw & Co | ||
| + | *Spencer Co. | ||
| + | *Sterling (might be read as company rather than model) | ||
*Sunbeam (might be read as company rather than model) | *Sunbeam (might be read as company rather than model) | ||
| + | *Utility Mfg. Co. (New York, then Chicago; many models stradle both cities) | ||
| + | *Waldorf Camera Co. | ||
| + | *Weimet Photo Products (New York) | ||
| + | *Wholesale Photo Supply | ||
| + | *Wittie Mfg. & Sales Co. | ||
==Camera models== | ==Camera models== | ||
Revision as of 04:47, 25 August 2011
|
| The Full-Vue, by Spartus, Spencer, Galter, Herold Products… image by Dollymae Dagger (Image rights) |
Those who appreciate and collect vintage bakelite cameras frequently make a curious discovery: First, a surprising number of simple plastic cameras seem to have originated from Chicago, Illinois, USA. And second, when compared closely, a number of these models (ostensibly coming from different manufacturers) have body styles which look practically identical.
The Chicago puzzle
In fact, several of these brand names can be linked directly to one particular address: 711–715 West Lake St., Chicago, as noted in period advertisements or the manuals included with cameras. But even where the address is unknown, it seems quite clear that many of the Chicago camera models emerged from exactly the same set of molds, casting doubt on the supposed separate identities of their makers.
Camera-wiki.org has listed several of these "companies" on their own pages. But this article is an effort to consolidate this bewildering swarm of brand and model names into a single page: and to cross-reference body styles with alleged company names, using examples that have been observed on Flickr, eBay and elsewhere. In all cases, these are simple "snapshot" cameras, with the greatest variety being the many models for 127 film in the eye-level "minicam" style which pays homage to the hit 35mm Argus A.
History
Many questions still require further research, but a few facts seem clear. Utility Manufacturing Co. originated several bakelite camera models under its brand Falcon in the 1930s. Utility gave its address as 40 West 25th St., New York City[1]. But certain camera models that were unquestionably made by Utility also appeared under other "company" names, the start of a practice that would explode in later years.
Already in 1940, cameras were being sold from 711 W. Lake Street, Chicago[2] byMonarck/Monarch (choose your spelling, the company used both). Many Monarch models have also been observed branded with names of other "manufacturers." Furthermore, by the mid 1940s, Falcon models were reappearing branded as Spartus—or, if even still under the Utility/Falcon name, now marked as made in Chicago.
Spartus Camera Co. was located at 715 W. Lake Street. Confusingly, some early advertisements give Spencer as the company name behind Spartus brand cameras[3].
Spartus Corp. was a successful Chicago manufacturer of clocks and razors. It was owned by Jack Galter, onetime Jazz drummer and serial entrepreneur. Eventually Galter accumulated significant real estate holdings, and in later years became a significant Chicago-area philanthropist. A Galter Products Co. also operated from 715 W. Lake St., including clocks and cameras in its offerings.
At some time in the early 1950s, Spartus was sold to Harold Rubin, who gave it the name to Herold Products Company, Inc., but continued using the Spartus brand on clocks and cameras[4]. And to tie this all into an impossible tangle, There is at least one printed manual for the Spartus Full-Vue which shows "Herold Manufacturing Co., Not Incorporated" as the company, 715 W. Lake as the address, whose cover shows a camera which is plainly labeled Galter Products under its taking lens[5].
By the 1960s Herold Products had reverted to Spartus as the company name, and it continued its clock production for many years (with later models showing Louisville, Mississippi as the company address).
The appearance of the Chicago cameras under a plethora of different names was facilitated by printing all the camera's identifying branding onto a single circular plate which was held to the front of the lens barrel by two screws.
The motivations for creating so many quasi-fictional brands can only be guessed at. Perhaps it was to offer certain distributors a brand that was exclusively theirs. Perhaps it was to avoid negative word-of-mouth over what were, after all, very basic cameras with rudimentary optics. In any case, the same approach would one day be adopted by Hong Kong's manufacturers of cheapie cameras, giving us the many names of the Diana or the Bedfordflex.
Body styles
These groupings may be further subdivided according to variations of knobs, lenses, and viewfinders. But we begin just with designs of body moldings: The ribs and other decorative motifs; film compartment locations, etc.
| Camera image | Lens name | Model names ("Company") | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Graf | Acro-Flash (Herold) Beauta Miniature Besta Brenda Starr Cub Reporter (Seymour) Churchill Dasco Dick Tracy (Seymour) Falcon Miniature (Falcon) Falcon Minette (Falcon) Flash-Master (Seymour) Hopalong Cassidy (Galter) Mar-Crest (Mar-Crest Mfg.) Pickwik Remington Sunbeam Minicam (Sunbeam) Waldorf | ||
|
? | Acro Acro-Flash (Herold) Cinex (King Sales) Da-Brite Falcon Miniature (Falcon) Flash-Master (Herold) Flash-Master (Seymour) Photo Master Regal (Galter) Wit-Eez (Wittie) | ||
|
Graf | Falcon Miniature (Utility) | ||
|
Graf | Carlton (Utility) Falcon Rocket (Falcon) Majestic (Spencer) Rocket by Weimet (Weimet) Sunbeam | ||
|
Minivar | Falcon Miniature (Utility) Falcon Deluxe (Utility) Minifoto Junior (Candid Camera Supply) |
Company names
In general, these "companies" seem to have been marketing fictions. It is possible a real, independent company or two has been inadvertently included here.
- Acro
- Allied Camera Supply (Utility)
- Barry Products Co.
- Beauta (might be read as company rather than model)
- Bernard Products
- Bournsell (France)
- The Camera Man
- Cinex (might be read as company rather than model)
- Da-Brite (might be read as company rather than model)
- Drexel Camera Co.
- Elgin Laboratories
- Falcon Camera Co.
- Five Star Camera Co.
- Flash Camera Co.
- Fotax (Sweden)
- Galter Products Co.
- General Products Co.
- Hamilton (might be read as company rather than model)
- Herold Mfg. Co.
- King Sales Co.
- Lee Industries
- Mar-Crest Mfg. Corp.
- Marvel Products
- Metropolitan Industries
- Monarch/Monark
- Monroe Sales
- National Silver
- North American Mfg. Co.
- Photo Master (might be read as company rather than model)
- Pickwik (might be read as company rather than model)
- Remington (might be read as company rather than model)
- Rolls Camera Mfg. Co.
- Seymour Products Co. (Seymour Sales Co.; Seymore Products Co.)
- H. E. Shaw & Co
- Spencer Co.
- Sterling (might be read as company rather than model)
- Sunbeam (might be read as company rather than model)
- Utility Mfg. Co. (New York, then Chicago; many models stradle both cities)
- Waldorf Camera Co.
- Weimet Photo Products (New York)
- Wholesale Photo Supply
- Wittie Mfg. & Sales Co.
Camera models
Notes
- ↑ A May 1940 advertisement from Popular Photography (Vol. 6, No. 5; page 57) shows this address.
- ↑ This June 1940 advertisement for Monarck gives 711 W. Lake Street as the company address (Popular Photography magazine, Vol. 6, No. 6; page 107). It must be noted that the "Flexmaster" looks suspiciously like the Falcon-Flex and the "Lincoln" like a Falcon Miniature.
- ↑ In this 1947 ad for Spartus cameras, note "The Spencer Company" at 715 West Lake Street is shown as the company name at the bottom of the page.
- ↑ 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). The address given for Herold Products is 2110 W. Walnut St, Chicago, which is a couple of miles west of 711–715 W Lake St.
- ↑ Spartus Full-Vue manual from Mike Butkus' OrphanCameras.com
