Vintage cameras

I’ve been trying to tidy up some of my digital files/links and came across this site I bookmarked ages ago. It’s an online collection of thousands of vintage cameras and information about when and where they were made. I had bookmarked my favorites and I think this is the perfect place to share them!

Above is the Ilford Advocate, UK 1949-1957

Kunik Petie Made in West Germany in 1956. So elegant.

Herbert George Savoy Mark II

Made in the US c. 1960. Look at that little atom or planet on the front!

Tahbes Synchrona

Made in the Netherlands c. 1948-49

Gap Box

tfw Dharma logo

Made in France c. 1952-55

Sem Babyjoy

Made in France c. 1960-65

Compass

This futuristic-looking complicated af camera was made in 1937! No surprise that it’s Swiss.

Toakoki Gelto DIII Cyclon

I assume this is Japanese-made, but the website doesn’t specify. Circa 1943-44

Demaria-Lapierre Capsa

This camera is wild – it held and rotated through multiple PLATES. I can’t picture how this works. Made in France c. 1900–more description at the link.

Vena Venaret

Made in the Netherlands, c. 1948-54.

Shaw-Harrison Sabre 620

Made in the US 1956-72.

Tessina Automatic 35

Tiniest twin lens reflex, and of course another Swiss masterpiece. Made c. 1960-68.

Minolta Miniflex

Made in Japan, 1959.

Goldstein Goldy

Made in France, 1947.

Jem Jr. Girl Scout

Made in the US in 1948

Irwin Lark

Made in the US from about 1939 to 1942ish

Dacora Instacora-F

I remember the smell of these flashbulbs–do you? Made in Germany c. 1967.

Goldstein Metabox

Made in France c. 1950.

Bolsey-Flex

Made in Germany c. 1954

Gap Box 6 x 9

Made in France, c. 1952-55.

Gallus Derlux

Made in France, c. 1947.

Finetta-Werk Ditto 99

Made in Germany c. 1953

Fex Indo Super-Boy

Made in France c. 1946

Eho Super Altissa

Made in Germany c. 1938-41.

Ferrania Euramatic FC

Made in Italy, 1963-64.

Fotochrome

Made in Japan, 1965. Another one that I’d love to get a peek inside of.

Dacora Daci Royal Flash

Made in Germany, c. 1951-52.

Eho Altissa D

Made in Germany c. 1951

Haneel Trivision

This bakelite beauty was made in the US from 1944-1950.

Compagnie Francaise de Photographie Photosphere no1

Can you even imagine owning this??? Made in France 1888-1902.

Brumberger Thunderbird

Made in the US c. 1962.

Kemper Kombi

Beautiful tiny camera—and made of brass! Made in the US from 1892-1895.

Beaugers Lubo

This complicated boi was made in France, c. 1941-52.

Cornu Week-end Bob

Made in France c. 1950

Kodak Brownie Six-16

I own one of these! It’s one of my prize possessions. It might have been through searching for more information on this camera that I found this site to begin with. Made in the US 1933-41.

Roche Allox

Made in France, 1948.

Sem Babylord (?!)

Made in France, c. 1960

Seroa Mecaflex

Made in Monaco, 1958.

Hunter Gilbert

Strange place for the viewfinder but ok. I wonder what it looks like inside. Made in the UK, c. 1948.

Universal Univex AF

Made in the US, 1935-38.

Ambrosio

Made in Italy, 1905.

Most of these entries don’t have very interesting stories, but this one is worth clicking through the link above. This is apparently hand-made, and only 10 ever existed in the world. Who knows how many remain.