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Post by cuchulainn on Oct 24, 2009 15:52:40 GMT -5
I just got a "Spartus 35" camera that seems to be in immaculate shape; even it's leather case! I think it was a decent buy, but I've been having a heck of a time researching this camera. Does anyone have any info?
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PeterW
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Post by PeterW on Oct 24, 2009 18:38:02 GMT -5
Spartus cameras had rather a chequered history. According to my copy of McKeown's Guide the company started out as the Utility Manufacturing Company in New York in 1934 but was sold to the Spartus Corporation in Chicago in the 1940s.
In 1951 the firm was bought by its sales manager Harold Rubin who changed the name to the Herold Manufacturing Company. In 1956 he changed the name back to Spartus Corporation. Several brand names were used including Falcon, Spencer, Galta and Regal as well as Spartus.
The original Spartus 35 was made by the Spartus Corporation starting about 1947 but after 1951 they were made by Herold.
Not sure about the original Spartus 35 but the later ones in the 1950s made by Herold had a brown Bakelite body with a grey plastic top. There were two slight variations made in the early 1950s, the Spartus 35F and Spartus 35F Model 400, mainly I believe restyling the body top plate The camera seems to have faded out around 1954.
The Spartus/Herold range was quite wide: box cameras, TLR-style box reflex cameras, a self-erecting folder styled like the early Kodak VPK, a self-erecting 120 folder and so on. They were all basically low-priced snapshot cameras. Not Wow! Rare! but collectable.
Hope this helps.
PeterW
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