Newsletter for September, 2000

The first society devoted to the history of photography and the preservation of photo antiques

Mark Your Calendar: PhotoHistory XI... Our 30-Year Tradition. .October 20-22

Just Before PH-XI. .PHS of Canada. Sprint Photographic Fair Sunday, Oct. 15

Show runs from 10 am to 3 pm. at The Soccer Center. Woodbridge. Ontario, 7601 Marion Grove Rd. Toronto. For additional info, phone or fax, Larry Boccioletti (416) 243-1439 or on the net at larbocci@interlog.com http://web.onramp.ca/phsc Tables may still be available at $40 for members and $55 for non-members.

Should "George Eastman Day" Become a Rochester Holiday?

July 12. 2000. marked the 146th anniversary of George Eastman s birth. In a recent review of the legacy Eastman left to the Rochester Community, Carol Ritter, columnist for the Rochester Democrat & Chronicle, suggested that something formal be done to recognize the man who gave his community so much. Among her ideas were: a special concert on the lawn of The George Eastman House, a special concert at The Eastman Theater, local restaurants offering one-day specials of his favorite foods, and perhaps a George Eastman Day Parade. Now all we need is a hard working committee. Any volunteers?

Our Tribute To Reo Bennett...

Throughout this issue we quote remarks of one of Kodak's most likable managers in the Consumer Markets division. If you had questions about a product, Kodak's or other brands, Roe could supply the answers with a twist that usually made you smile. Among other things Roe was charged with keeping the field alerted to new competitive products. At sales meetings, one of his favorite approaches was to fill a stage with competitive cameras and hide them behind a curtain. He began a short talk with a list of the Kodak camera line's superiority. Then he would ask the audience to name serious competitive products. A few of the best sellers were usually given. Next, he asked what features might be better than those on Kodak models. After which he would declare, "But you will all agree that we have the name and the market. Incidentally, just how many competitive cameras are we selling against?" Invariably, the audience would say a number well below fifty, following which Reo would dramatically open the curtain displaying dozens and dozens of competitive cameras from around the world. The audiences, usually amazed, were then ready to listen to his comments about how they might survive with that "lack of competition from other manufacturers."

"The Collector's Checklist"s of Leica and Contax Cameras, Lenses and Accessories Again Available

Whether you are a pure Leica or Contax fan or just need an occasional reference on the two brands, The Collector's Checklists books, classic volumes previous out of print are once again available, along with a volume called The Affordable Collection. They are distributed exclusively by The Leica Historical Society of America. The Leica volume is $40. The Contax volume $30, and the Affordable Collection is $10. All are softbound (paper) and the prices include postage. Send Orders To Leica Historical Society of America, P.O. Box 250089, Piano, TX 75025-0089. If you are interested in joining the LHSofA, membership is $40 per year. This includes several publications including a Journal and collector prices.

This Month's First of Four Mystery Questions.(Answers at end of Newsletter)/

Mystery question #1 -What company used KAMRO as a trademark on photographic items? Hint: Think cheap. (Answer at end of newsletter)

Remember View-Master? Guess Where They Are Made Now. Ola!

Dateline Beaverton, Ore.: Sawyers, Inc., was founded in the summer of 1938 when William Gruber was visiting the Oregon Caves National Monument and almost literally ran into Harold Graves, president of Sawyers Photographic Services located here. That chance meeting would go on to create a company with several unique distinctions. A major one being that for years Sawyers would be the only processor of Kodachrome film outside of Kodak's labs. The reason was probably that Kodak simply didn't want to handle tiny stereo slides mounted in a 3 1/2" disc. The Associated Press called the View-Master "a wondrous three-dimensional world viewed through a plastic machine". By 1952, Sawyers had produced not only millions of View-Master stereo discs, but a whole photographic "system" with cameras that enabled amateur photographers to take Kodachrome View-Master reels and others that made conventional non-stereo 35mm slides. They also made stereo and non- stereo projectors. The die-cast aluminum Stereo-matic 500 projector produced 40"x50" wide images and sold for several hundred dollars. While do-it-yourself mounting equipment was available, film processing and mounting was a major cash cow for Sawyers, Inc.

Unfortunately, technology, especially electronics, began to offer more appeal to older kids. While younger children remained the major enthusiasts of View-Masters, even their interest began to lag. So when also struggling GAF (think Ansco) made an offer, the company was sold. It was a short marriage and Mattel (think Barbie) became its current owner. While the Beaverton plant, where the 60-year-old toy was created, had been its manufacturing center for more than three decades, soon rising costs prompted View-Master to pack up it's molds and move to Tijuana, Mexico. Mattel says this will leave only the Etch-A-Sketch, hand produced in Ohio, as the last baby-boomer mechanical toy still in production in the US.

View-Master sales, while not disclosed, must be profitable enough to justify the costly move to Mexico for their continued production. Through the years everything from Disney characters to national parks, to Michael Jackson in "Thriller", have come to life on the small wheels with the tiny pictures. Parents felt, and apparently still do, that a View-Master is something that is not only entertaining, but also provides education that their kids enjoy.

O.K.. Mickey Mouse Club members. Where Did The Kodak Mickey Mouse Brownie Camera Come From? If You Said Kodak. Think Again. But. Possibly. You Could Be Right.

Tim Fuss, our ever curious president, is renewing a search for the answer to a mystery that started in 1995, or perhaps earlier, and has recently surfaced on eBay. As McKeown noted, and illustrated, in his 1998 edition, pg 163, Kodak Brownie Target Six-20s with Mickey Mouse faceplates had appeared in several antique stores in 1995. They were then believed to be prototypes. One was said to have an original box. Quoting McKeown, "Examples have gone unsold at antique shows for $500" and yet one brought $6000 at Christie's. The several known sales in the $2500-3500 range are probably near the true value. Recently such a camera was offered on eBay. According to Tim, another review of Kodak records found no Kodak Mickey Mouse Brownie box camera as having been manufactured. Yet, there are apparently several examples that are at the least "realistic" looking. To add to the mystery, and perhaps to enhance the possibility of fakes, they may not be all be alike.

Whether or not any of the cameras are genuine, they would certainly not be the only Mickey Mouse cameras ever sold. Kodak made the 1988 Pocket 110 Mickey-Matic, which came in either blue or magenta. There were at least eleven other models made by other manufacturers including the Child Guidance Products' Mick-A-Matic shaped like Mickey's head with lens in nose and a right ear shutter release. A similar model using 110 film was made in 1985, by Helm Toy Corp. In 1958 Ompex made a 16mm model. And in 1956 an Ettelson Corp. (Chicago) box camera made of black Bakelite had red trim and Mickey nameplates on the front, rear and the advance knob.

HOME MOVIES- A History of the American Industry 1887-1979
A New Book By Alan D. Kattelle

Almost everyone who is interested in movie machine collecting and/or the movie machine industry history, knows Alan Kattelle. They also know that Alan has been researching and writing a book for several years. Those of us who have had the privilege of reading a few early chapters have eagerly anticipated the final result. We realized that Alan had not only set out on a historical research project that few others would have tackled, he would not deem It finished until it was as close to perfection as he could make it. Alan's subject? Motion pictures, of course, but not just any motion pictures. Alan's new 400 plus, page volume is centered on home movies

Except for books on making home movies, few photographic books have devoted much space to home movie, Alan proves that they were a vital part of amateur photographic history. Not only does his fart-filled and entertaining volume fill the void, we predict it will become the unequaled source on the main subject and in many other areas of amateur photography as well. A major example is Alan's review of the overall photographic industry from 1887 to 1979.

Assisted by profuse illustrations, the reader gets immediately involved with facts and illustrations that often surprise. For example, Alan goes just a bit farther back than 1887. He reviews mankind's fascination with pictures that show people moving. Example- early man's drawings of action figures on cave walls. The allure of people in motion, he feels, eventually led to motion pictures development by Muybridge, Edison, and others.

In the section on manufacturers, Alan provides portraits of the leading, and not infrequently, financially bleeding, companies that produced home movie movie products. They include Kodak, Bell & Howell, Revere, Keystone, Universal and lessor known names. This section alone is worth purchasing the book by those interested in general photographic industry history.

Fully indexed, the volume is a ready reference for photographic historians in many areas beside home movies, from apparatus to "film" (and other media), to who did what, when, why and with what outcome.

Alan D. Kattelle: HOME MOVIES-A History of the American Industry. 1887-1979, 410 pp. Release date Fail 2000. Estimated list price $35, plus postage. For more information contact the author at 50 Old Country Road, Hudson,MA 01749-3026 Phone (978)-562-9184

And What Did Roe Bennett Say About Home Movies:

Roe described home movie cameras as the only product the company sold that five years or so after purchase- or more often than not, received as a gift- was gathering dust in the hall closet with its first roll of film-undeveloped.

Free Comparison Guide to Current Cameras available at Target stores camera counter. One of the better ones we have seen lately. Their buyer protection plans also looks reasonable. This is not a commercial and, no, we own no stock in Target.

Mystery Question #2 - In Alan Kattelle's book, he lists 17 manufactures or brand name distributors of movie film available in the 1950's. Other than from the major manufactures, where did the lessor known distributors get their film? (Answer at End of Newsletter)

Consumer Reports Looks At Cameras- Circa 1940

The non-profit, Consumers Union, publication Consumer Reports is one of the country's most popular publications. It is the bible for many people when they plan a purchase- especially one that is fairly expensive or that they buy once ever ten years or so - like cameras. CU has been around since the late 1930's. It hit its stride with the publication of the book Skin Deep which forced the Food and Drug Administration to make manufacturers of cosmetics to take toxic ingredients out of their products.

CU's role in amateur photography has been somewhat controversial. Through the years they have praised some of the worst cameras on the market and denounced some of the better ones. To again quote Roe Bennett of Kodak Consumer Markets. "If they condemned a Kodak camera it made no noticeable dip in sales, but let them praise one and Kodak had to add an extra shift at the Camera Works."

As a fund-drive promotion, non-profit CU ask members to sent a $15 donation, for which they would receive a reprint of what was then called Consumers Union Report. The reprint's 47 pages turned out to be a worthwhile reference for collectors of several items including: cereals, beer, "cars to come" (Kaiser-Frazier), and cameras.

The longest photographic article is a two-page review of the January 1949 announcement of the new Polaroid camera. They liked it and, in so many words, believed that it was the future of all photography. They did have a few reservations about the first model however, calling it "an expensive novelty". Testers pointed out that a practical use of the camera was for photo professionals who could take test shots to check lighting. Not a bad prediction.

Five more pages of cameras include the Busch Pressman "D" ($89.50 stripped; $2 14.53.with rangefinder, lens and shutter, rated a Best Buy). 13 other cameras from 1947, ranging from the folding Kodak Vigilant ì...clear winner with its excellent f:6.3 Anastigmat lens. For unexcelled (lens) sharpness, there is the Medalist II ($262) and the Kodak Reflex ($120). The Medalist II was considered excessively bulky but with excellent features. The Kodak Reflex, was rated acceptable at $120.42, but, aside from the lens, was considered inferior to the less expensive-$76.98- Ciroflex. The Ciroflex was rated an "outstanding buy", that is, "if.. .you can manage the loading and unloading without too much difficulty." Ansco's box cameras were considered inferior to Kodak box cameras, although the Ansco Pioneer had an inexpensive flash attachment. In 35mm cameras, the Perfex 55 was acceptable even though the "shutter action and film transport was not reliable on one of two models tested." The Kodak 35 with rangefinder, Kodak 35 with flash and the Argus A2 ($29.85 with case) all had four shutter speeds and were inaccurate. The Argus "Lens on sample tested fairly good, but pictures taken less than 10 ft. at full lens opening were badly out of focus". Two models rated Not Acceptable were the Clarus MS-35 and the Vokar I. The rangefinder on one Clarus sample tested poorly adjusted and not synchronized to lens. The automatic film counter could not be set to zero and the film transport became inoperative with second roll of film used. The camera was sent to the manufacturer and returned in same inoperable condition. The Vokar I's rangefinder did not operate smoothly. The film transport did not operate at all on either of two samples tested.

Inexpensive 127 miniatures fared better. These included the Clix-O-Flex (with large reflecting viewfinder) ($5.95), Faultless ($4.50), Falcon De Luxe ($4.98), Falcon ($3.98), Clix-De-Luxe ($2.95). Those at the head of the list were rated "reasonably good cameras, price considered". The lone 16mm camera, The Whittaker MICRO 16 measuring 2 3/4" x 2 7/8" and selling for $29.50 was rated Not Acceptable. It was "difficult to use with camera in a vertical position", and interesting "only as a novelty".

We enjoyed the reprint which fits in nicely with our saved copies of Consumer Reports which span more then 25 years. You may not agree with CR but they are great reference material. If you are interested in the reprint write: Consumers Union, 101 Truman Ave, Yonkers, NY 10703. Enclose $15 and ask for Best of the 40's-Volume 1.

Mystery Question #3 -In the Alfred Hitchcock movie "Rear Window", actor Jimmy Stewart used two cameras to spy on his neighbors. What were they and when did they appear in the movie? (Answer at end of newsletter)

NYC's Photographer's Bookplace Closes March 2001

For the past 15 years, if you were looking for a book on almost any aspect of photography and couldn't find it, it was comforting to know that you could give Harvey Zucker a call at his A Photographer's Place, 133 Mercer St., New York City and he would probably have it. Unfortunately that shop of last (or usually first) resort, will be no more after March of next year. Zucker, a onetime commercial photographer, magazine editor, president of the New York, American PHS, and experimenter of photographic processes, is closing the store. While the closing is the bad news, the good news is that prices are being reduced. So, if you have been putting off buying that special book on photography, give Harvey a call at 212-431-9358.

What To Know More About Those Brownies?

Palmer Cox created them, Kodak made millions of cameras with their name on them. And you can learn more about them on October 12, 7 pm, at the Eastman House's Curtis Theater. Cathy Conners will give a presentation on their creator, the Brownies themselves, and their history that is mostly unknown today. Admission is free.

Whatever Happened to Winross?

Nick Graver has asked if anyone knows what happened to the Winross company that produced a long line of "collectible", cast metal, miniature trucks. These had company or product colors and logos on their sides. Several were made with Kodak logos. Like most Winross items, the production runs were limited, making many of the models instantly desirable to collectors. The company's last known location was in a small industrial complex behind Panorama Plaza in Penfield, NY. If you have any information call Nick at 244-4818 or your editor at 381-5507

Mystery Question #4 - Who was Thomas H. James? What was his contribution to modern photography? (Answer at end of newsletter) How Much of A Challenge to Film is Digital Imaging?

There is no question that digital imaging is having an impact on photography, but with some possible exceptions, the average amateur photographer has yet to toss their 35mm film camera for the still pricey, digital models-especially those that appear to come close to film quality. We Again Quote Reo Bennett And What He Would Probably Say About Digital.

Reo contended that for most amateur camera users if their returned prints had an image, they were happy.. .and if they were in color, they were ecstatic. He would probably say something like that about digital.

And You Probably Thought Tripods Were Just For Cameras...

News release,: North Adams, Mass: Bo Peabody. who founded the online company Tripod and sold it in 1998, has raised $80 million for a new company called Village Ventures which will help set up small venture-capital firms in small college towns around the US. Just thought you would like to know in case you are a bit short on venture capital. Answer to First Mystery Question: F.W. Woolworth & Co. Answer to Second Mystery Question: Alan lists the following Movie Film manufacturers or brand name distributors: (Those noted with (M) were manufacturers): AGFA (ML Bolsey, Cinephonic, DuPont (ML Dynachrome (M), ESO-S, Fotochrome, General Aniline & Film -ANSCO (M), Ilford (M), Kin- 0-Lux, Kodak (M), Perfect Photo, Perutz (M), Sears, Superior Bulk Film, Var-I-Pan, Western Cine Services. Many of the lessor known companies sold military surplus film, often respooled from bulk rolls. Some ads noted the manufacturer, usually Kodak or Ansco. As the surplus supply ran out (it took years) more film was imported. Most came from small producers in both eastern and western European countries that were recovering from the war. Almost all the film was black and white.

Answer to Third Mystery Question: Stewart first has a 4 x 5 Speed Graphic and later switches to a 35mm Exakta SLR with a telephoto lens.

Answer to Fourth Mystery Question: Thomas H. James, a retired scientist at the Kodak Research Labs, passed away August 24, 2000. Mr. James developed basic information and processes that helped make photography as we know it. Before joining the Kodak Labs in January 1936, he had put himself through the University of Colorado shoveling coal and writing free-lance articles on classical musicians. His major research at Kodak was on the development of photographic film, latent image effects and chemical and spectral sensitization, for all of which he received numerous basic patents. He was awarded medals and other honors from photographic societies around the world and made honorary member of Societies in Great Britain, France, Japan and the New York Academy of Scientists. He co-authored and edited the Fundamentals of Photographic Theory and Introduction to Photographic Theory. He was generally considered the dean of American Photographic Sciences. Following his retirement in 1977, Mr. James lectured and conducted research on the history of photography and wrote a biography of Dr. Mees.

The Photographic Historical Society Newsletter
Published by America’s oldest photographic historical group
dedicated to the preservation of photographic history and equipment
in January, March, May, September and November

Materials in this publication are copyrighted
Permission to reprint is granted to other historical groups if credited to TPHS
Some authors may retain copyright. If so noted, permission to reprint must be obtained.

Editor: Joe A. Bailey
Newsletter address: 191 Weymouth Drive, Rochester, N.Y. 14625 (716) 381-5507

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