The Box of tricks

Press, 26 February 1987, Page 13

The Box of tricks

By

JOAN WOODWARD

Most mothers do have them—old snapshot albums full of faded, nostalgic photographs of family gatherings and dimly-re-membered relations. If the tops of their heads are missing, or if the boating-party is sailing happily uphill, it is more than likely that the photos were taken with box cameras.

Hand-held cameras were the newest invention to follow the introduction of dry-plate negatives in about 1880, and were known as “Detective” cameras because their small and unobtrusive design enabled photos to be taken without attracting attention.

There were two types: the

versatile folding, or bellows, camera suitable for serious and professional photographers: and the simple box, ideal for the unskilled beginner. The first box camera was invented, in 1881, soon followed by popular models with names like "Momentograph” and “Schlicht’s Blitz”. Up to 12 small glass negatives in

light-proof sheaths were stacked in the back with a spring which released each plate-holder by means of a lever.

In 1888, George Eastman produced a model which used roll film on celluloid instead of glass. Called the Kodak, it was the first of a long line of strong, plain cameras with only the most basic

and essential movements. It had a fixed-focus lens (giving sharp definition to anything beyond 7 or 8 feet), one speed, and one stop. Two reflective view-finders were built in for horizontal and vertical views, and there was a key for winding the film, and a button to release the shutter.

These cheap and easy cameras were great fun, especially as Eastman also began to provide a developing and printing service so that the new enthusiasts did

not even need a darkroom. His slogan was "You Press The Button, We Do The Rest” But even just pressing the button was not easy, because often the whole camera would

move with the pressure, resulting in the decapitations mentioned earlier. A tripod or handy post helped prevent camera-shake, but the Encyclopaedia 4)f Photography, 1911, warns against the idea that some magic property enabled shorter exposures: “The hand-camera worker,” it says “should absolutely rid his mind of any idea that good work can be obtained in a haphazard and slipshod manner.” Wood and cardboard constuction was gradually replaced by metal and plastics. The first to have a moulded plastic case was the Kodak Baby Brownie of 1934, available widely through coupon schemes advertised in comics and magazines. In 1937, makes • available included Agfa, Actina, Coronet, Ensign, Kodak, and Zeiss-Ikon, each with a range of models. The more elaborate models offered a selection of lenses, a choice of shutter speeds, and focusing scales. A wide variety of film types, sizes and widths was also available. After the Second World War, eye-level miniatures gained in popularity and film sizes became smaller and more standardised, until by the 1960 s the box had become obsolete, eclipsed by the instamatic with 35mm colour film in cartridges. The two cameras illustrated are from the .Canterbury Museum’s collection.