The Chicago Cluster

This is a work in progress.

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 companies) have molded plastic cases which look practically identical.

In fact, several of these brand names can be linked directly to one particular address: 711–715 West Lake St., Chicago, seen 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 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 "company" names and model names using examples that have been observed on Flickr, eBay and elsewhere. In all cases, these are simple "snapshot" cameras, many of them models for 127 film in the eye-level "minicam" style pioneered by the 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.

Already in 1940, cameras were being sold from 711 W. Lake Street, Chicago And by the mid 1940s, Falcon models were reappearing branded as Spartus—or, if 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.

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. And 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, and pictures a camera which is plainly labeled Galter Products under its taking lens.

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

Body styles

Camera image	Lens name	Model names
image by Mattijsje (Image rights)	Graf	Waldorf Falcon