Antique Folding Cameras - Way More Affordable Than You Think!

Have you ever wanted to own a real antique camera, but were convinced you couldn't afford it? Well believe me, you can. It doesn't matter if you are looking for a unique addition to your decor, or actually want to run some film through it, there are plenty of them around for way less than you think.

Various manufacturers, like Kodak and Ansco, produced large amounts of box and folding cameras in the early 1900's, and there are still plenty of them around today. They were made in a variety of colors and sizes for all different types of film. Box cameras in good working condition start around $20 USD, and folding cameras usually start at around $30.

Some things to look for when shopping around:

• Check out the condition of the bellows - do they look supple and free from holes? Cracking and stiffness are the most common problems with folding cameras. Also, open the back of the camera and hold it up to the light so you can check for holes. Folding cameras are prone to tiny pinholes in the corners of the bellows.
  
• Is the lens clear and free of scratches? A common problem with older cameras is fog or fungus, both of which are difficult to remove from an old lens.
• Do all the knobs and dials move freely and without obstruction? Every time I forget to check this, I end up with a film spool knob that doesn't work, or an aperture ring that's frozen stiff.
• Is the camera easy to open and close? Does it close tightly, and do the seams fit together properly?
• Inspect the finish of the camera - is it smooth and free of defects? If it's a Bakelite camera, look closely at the corners and edges. Bakelite cameras are prone to melt marks, which are hard to detect unless examined closely. If the camera is covered in leather or leatherette, make sure it lies flat and that there is no lift.
  
• When checking the shutter, make sure you open the back of the camera and watch from the back, since it's hard to see the shutter firing through the lens of most cameras. Check the shutter at all speeds, as it is very common for older cameras to work fine at faster speeds, but to lose accuracy at the lower shutter speeds.
• Buy a camera that's been checked thoroughly by a reputable dealer, like The Collector Detector!
  
  

We built this city...

With bricks by Argus.

Argus is an American company that has been making cameras since the 1930s. The C3 was their most popular camera, and it was one of the top selling 35mm cameras in history.

And these things still sell like crazy! Every one I get in flies right back out the door.

Looking at it, you wouldn't think it would be so popular. It's a particularly ungraceful camera - pretty much just a big rectangle with a lens attached to it, and it is incredibly heavy. Most people call it "The Brick", which I can vouch for, since I accidentally dropped one on my foot last week. Ouch!

All kidding aside though, it's a great beginner's camera, vintage or not. It's not too complicated, it is durable and solid, and usually reasonably priced ($39-69) in good working condition.

The first time I laid eyes on one about 20 years ago, I immediately liked it. The silky feel of the Bakelite housing, all the complicated looking silver gears and knobs, and the heavy, bulky feel of it thrilled me. Even the custom-fit leather case with the padded sides and blue velvet lining appealed to me.

Thankfully, I am not alone in my fascination with the C3 and its fellows. There are Argus collector clubs all over the world devoted to this monster, and the other vintage Argus models.

Have I made you want one yet? Go For It!

SX-70 - The Skins Are Almost In.

I've run across a lot of Polaroid SX-70 Cameras that are working well, but have badly deteriorating Porvair skins. Like this Model 2:
This isn't as bad as some I have seen, but it's enough to turn most people off of a camera that otherwise would be highly coveted.

So I started doing some research on replacing the skins. I've only found two places that currently make the skins, but the colors and styles they offer are very limited. Now, if you are going through all the trouble of replacing the skin on your beloved 1970s camera, wouldn't you appreciate some alternate options?

Yeah, me too. So I found a local place to do a mock-up of a few designs for me. We'll see how it goes. If they're not ridiculously expensive I'll put a few up for sale in our store at The Collector Detector and see if other people are interested as well.

I wonder if a My Pretty Pony pattern would sell?

Ah Polaroid, I love your naming conventions.

Somebody over at Polaroid was a comedian. I am consistently amused and titillated by the names of Polaroid cameras.

A few of my favorites:
The Button, because it's cute as a Button, of course. Duh.
The Amigo because it's a camera! It's flesh colored! It's your friend! Not creepy at all!
Oh look! It's the Electric Zip! I hope I don't get a shock when I press the shutter! Zing!
(a. yes I am a dork, and 2. why do my fingers keep trying to type shitter instead of shutter?)
The Big Swinger. Ahem. Hmm. This was in the 70s, and there is a couple using their Big Swingers on the manual cover. I'll let you make your own assumptions.
The Cool Cam! It's cool! Hence, you will be cool if you buy this camera! Didn't anybody ever tell Mr. Edwin Land that if you have to tell people that you're cool it's kind of a self-canceling thing? In spite of all this, he was cool, and it is a cool camera. Dang.
The Big Shot. I have nothing bad to say here. This camera was SO GIGANTIC, I went from feeling like a total nerd using it to feeling like King of the World. It totally works. Plus Andy Warhol loved this camera. Done, and done!
The Square Shooter. Was this camera only for taking pictures of my friends? HAHAHAHA. Ha.
The Time-Zero. Interesting. I either want to go Orwellian (see George Orwell's 1984) with this one, or Reznorian (See Nine Inch Nails' Year Zero).
Or, it's the end of the world.
Or, hurry up go get one now before time is out!
I'm in a quandary. So I'll move on.
The Super Clincher. This one kills me. Why does it remind me of a certain posterior anatomical orifice? That can't have been what they were going for. Am I the only one? Is it a deal breaker? Or a "Clincher"! Wait, I get it!
No I don't.
And fittingly, I'll end here.

(Git you one at The Collector Detector)

So-Called "Cheap Cameras"

I have a bone to pick with people who disdain the less expensive variety of vintage cameras.

It seems to me that the most original, colorful, and funkiest designs invariably popped up on the most inexpensive cameras.

For instance, take a gander at this little guy:
I mean, seriously, Polka Dots? On a camera? Awesome.

That seafoam green color is so evocative of the 60s - I can just imagine how well this would match the living room or kitchen decor. Or the wings on the master's caddy.

And the variations are endless! There are hundreds of different models of the Kodak Brownie Camera alone!

Now excuse me while I go put some pincurls in my hair and slip on my bobbie socks and penny loafers. Has anybody got a strand of pearls they can lend me?

http://TheCollectorDetector.net