American Beauties ?

[photax]

Hi !

I found this extraordinary shaped camera ( and a bag full of about fifteen low priced American camera oddities ) at a flea market last weekend. The Fotron III was manufactured by Traid Corp. Glendale, California in the early 1960`s. I heard that the Fotron III was the second model, why not named it Fotron II ? It was probably the first camera featuring a built-in flash and a electrical film winder. Wikipedia says this camera had been sold door-to-door at very high prices ( from 150.- USD upwards ). It uses special snap-in film cartridges, based on 828-film, which had to be sent back for developing. In comparison with the size of the camera ( second picture shows my D-90 aside ), the negative dimension is just rediculous. I think this shoe-box sized camera is a candidate for the “worlds ugliest camera award” . Was this a big achievement in the US back then ? Has anyone used this monster ?






The second one is obviously a early instant camera: A 1938 ? cardboard-box named Photo-See Camera No.100 Model A, manufactured by Photosy Corp. New York. Mc Keown mentions: A art-deco box camera and developing tank for photos in 5 minutes. Is there anyone out there who can explain the operating mode to me ? Mickey, I guess there is one of these on your shelf .





At least a 1958 heavy metal white enamel painted Revere Eye-Matic EE 127 with a Wollensak Raptar 58mm/2.8. I knew so far that Revere had built a wide range of movie-cameras and some stereos, but I have never seen one like this.



MIK

[mickeyobe]

toMIK,

I have the Fotron III. It is, in my opinion, a perfect example of a product by a designer, who knows nothing about photography, being allowed to run amok. It is big and heavy and angular with a number of sharp corners. It is uncomfortable to hold. Its operation is illogical and clumsy. But. Its black leather(ette?) carrying case is rather attractive with its pool table green felt interior. There is an overabundance of instruction sheets telling one how to operate the camera and how not destroy it. The exposed film cartridges were to be sent to Triad Corporation in California for processing.
I have never tried to operate it, however, I just put it on charge to see if there is any life left in the beast.

The Revere looks like a more sensible and rather attractive camera.

The Photo-See was an honest attempt to make an inexpensive camera system that would produce prints quickly on the spot. It is a sort of predecessor of Polaroid.

I have six complete sets of the Photo-See which were retrieved from a rather damp warehouse. The sets include the camera, developing tank, instruction manual and box. None of them is as pristine as the one you have pictured but they are reasonably acceptable.
I do not have any film. Indeed, I don't know what the film looked like for certain but from the picture and description in the manual it appears to be some kind of film pack.

I think they are all a curious part of photographic history.

Mickey

[Deleted]

A friend gave me a Fotron and I find that tied to the end of a rope, it will hold a 14-foot boat in place in a 6 miles per hour current.

[mickeyobe]

May 12, 2010 8:29:38 GMT -5 @wayne said:

A friend gave me a Fotron and I find that tied to the end of a rope, it will hold a 14-foot boat in place in a 6 miles per hour current.

I wrote:

"I have never tried to operate it, however, I just put it on charge to see if there is any life left in the beast."

It's dead.
So now I must get a 14 foot boat to be able to use it.

Mickey

[photax]

Hi Mickey,

You are right, the only good looking part of the Fotron is the case, mine has a ruby colored interior. Thanks for the explanation of the Photo-See-Box. Wow ! You got six of them, and I thought this is a real rare one.
Wayne, I can not test my Fotron, because the battery charger cable is missing and in addition we got 220 V over here, but I assume it is also dead. So lets pool our money with Mickey to get a 42 foot boat .

MIK

[mickeyobe]

May 13, 2010 9:50:37 GMT -5 photax said:

Hi Mickey,

You are right, the only good looking part of the Fotron is the case, mine has a ruby colored interior. Thanks for the explanation of the Photo-See-Box. Wow ! You got six of them, and I thought this is a real rare one.
Wayne, I can not test my Fotron, because the battery charger cable is missing and in addition we got 220 V over here, but I assume it is also dead. So lets pool our money with Mickey to get a 42 foot boat .

MIK

MIK,

McKeown's lists the Photo-See at $35-$40 US, Mine would probably be $35 or less.
So much for my valuable "rarities".
Really though, if yours is as immaculate as it looks in the photo it probably is a rarity. McKeown's even comments on the fact that they are usually found with rust due to improper storage.

A 42' boat sounds good. It is a big step up from my old 16' canoe.
This is sort of similar to the old camera collectors' story about getting a lens cap and waiting years to get the camera to fit it.

Mickey