Post by raybar on Aug 1, 2016 12:32:28 GMT -5
There are some vintage Popular Photography magazines available for free at books.google.com
Nothing approaching a complete library, unfortunately.
The old articles are fun to see, but from a collecting point of view, the equipment ads are of particular interest. A month-by-month history of what was available in the U.S. over the years.
On a personal note, the May 1947 issue, the month I was born, had ads for
New York Stores --
- Minifilm Camera Exchange where I bought my first Canon F-1 with a 50/1.8 and a used 135/2.5 (still have them, F-1 use a CLA)
- Olden Camera where I never bought anything because they quoted me a good price for a slide projector on the phone without mentioning that there was no lens included until I got to the store.
- Spiratone where I bought a bunch of junk -- I mean economically prices items - in my destitute student days. Still have a some of it, including 400/6.3 and 105/2.5 presets, a paper trimmer, and half a box of unused 35mm slide mounts.
- Willoughby's where I bought my first enlarger (an Omega medium format model to which I soon added a cold-light head).
Cameras --
- A 16mm version of the 35mm Mitchell movie cameras that were still in use (a little) when I got into the Hollywood industry in 1980. I "pulled focus" on a couple low budget jobs with these aging beasts (required giant sound blimp), but mostly worked with Panavision.
- Pacemaker Speed and Crown Graphics -- "The Great New Graphics Are Here" -- Just coming onto the market. 4x5, 3x4, 2x3. Detailed article in this issue as well.
- The twin-lens Kodak Reflex Camera (620 film) which didn't last long in competition with Rollei for some reason.
- The Argus 21 camera (35mm) -- the "First and only Candid Camera with war-born Markfinder"
- Bolex 16mm movie cameras - I had and used a beat up old one in film school. Sold it after graduation.
And many more ...
Nothing approaching a complete library, unfortunately.
The old articles are fun to see, but from a collecting point of view, the equipment ads are of particular interest. A month-by-month history of what was available in the U.S. over the years.
On a personal note, the May 1947 issue, the month I was born, had ads for
New York Stores --
- Minifilm Camera Exchange where I bought my first Canon F-1 with a 50/1.8 and a used 135/2.5 (still have them, F-1 use a CLA)
- Olden Camera where I never bought anything because they quoted me a good price for a slide projector on the phone without mentioning that there was no lens included until I got to the store.
- Spiratone where I bought a bunch of junk -- I mean economically prices items - in my destitute student days. Still have a some of it, including 400/6.3 and 105/2.5 presets, a paper trimmer, and half a box of unused 35mm slide mounts.
- Willoughby's where I bought my first enlarger (an Omega medium format model to which I soon added a cold-light head).
Cameras --
- A 16mm version of the 35mm Mitchell movie cameras that were still in use (a little) when I got into the Hollywood industry in 1980. I "pulled focus" on a couple low budget jobs with these aging beasts (required giant sound blimp), but mostly worked with Panavision.
- Pacemaker Speed and Crown Graphics -- "The Great New Graphics Are Here" -- Just coming onto the market. 4x5, 3x4, 2x3. Detailed article in this issue as well.
- The twin-lens Kodak Reflex Camera (620 film) which didn't last long in competition with Rollei for some reason.
- The Argus 21 camera (35mm) -- the "First and only Candid Camera with war-born Markfinder"
- Bolex 16mm movie cameras - I had and used a beat up old one in film school. Sold it after graduation.
And many more ...