TBT…

Lots of folks talk about how a cell phone now has EVERY capability from the old Radio Shack ads, including a pretty decent camera.

But the old school cameras did work pretty well for their technology and the time period.

My grandfather’s Brownie that he used to take pictures as a RR investigator. Just about every picture I have was processed by Fox Processing, San Antonio, TX back in the early 1900s. Not exactly sure, but I’m betting this one is at least 100 years old.

And Stretch was cleaning out some stuff and found this Kodak Hawkeye box, with a camera still in it. At best I can find, I think it dates to around 1950, and was used sparingly at best.

No batteries required, and you had to wait a couple of weeks to find out if you got any good pictures, unless you developed your own…

Comments

TBT… — 23 Comments

  1. That is a nice find and it is in great condition.

    Flashbulbs. It would have been inconceivable to take the number of photos we take with our phones if each photo meant using a flashbulb.

    When inexpensive hobbyist strobes entered the marketplace, I changed over and never looked back.

    One of my coworkers was a former NatGeo photographer in the film days and he told that a story’s photos might take up to six months on location, and total around a quarter million shots on actual film.

  2. Man, that is some old school cameras. I’m glad someone was around to keep an protect them from thrown out.

    Do you remember those folding cameras which had a film cartridge that instantly allowed picture to come out of front ? Then took a few minutes for picture to develop – I think it was back in late 70’s – early 80’s. We might have one of those hanging around, but film cartridges I doubt it.

  3. jrg– those were Polaroids. Earlier than you mention, though they were still around in that time frame. I still have one floating around here somewhere, but you’re right — the film packs are no longer available. And that little Brownie Hawkeye! It’s still around somehwere, too. My very first camera, just after WWII when we could afford a luxury like that! Still have a number of the pictures, too.

    • Thank you sir. My 1st photo ever was taken with one of those cameras.

      I’m a dinosaur, still use a Sony pocket camera for my EDC camera. My flip phone’s camera is a poor substitute.

  4. “Lots of folks talk about how a cell phone now has EVERY capability from the old Radio Shack ads, including a pretty decent camera.”

    That’s not too far off. The modern smartphone has most of the capabilities of an alarm clock, watch, wireless telephone, calculator, computer, still camera, video camera, answering machine, flashlight, TV, VCR, and stereo. That basically leaves out radio, RC toys, and electronics components/kits, and a few odds and ends from the catalog

    • You can use a phone to control some drones, so RC toys might be included. 🙂

  5. My Mom still has a Brownie Hawkeye in a drawer somewhere. Can you still get film for them or find someone to process it?

  6. I really liked the film the Hawkeye used. It was bigger than 110 cartridges and gave great, sharp pictures. Was it 210? The 110 film wasn’t bad. I used to take sunset pictures up in Lubbock county with a little Kodak Instamatic. They were good ones, too.

    I have a camera that uses the 210 in my desk. It has uncoated optics and manual focus. Really a neat camera.

    • Brownies always seemed quaint and primordial compared to the svelte and hi-tech(/s.) flash cube 126.

    • Brownie’s used 120 I believe.
      Pull the film just enough to spool on the take up spindle to make sure it caught, but not so much as to loose an exposure.

  7. In answer to Mke V regarding film, the answers are yes and yes — B&H Photo Video in New York and on the web.

  8. My parents had a Brownie and a Hawkeye. I used each to take a few pics in grade school (early 1960s). Haven’t seen ’em in years, though.

  9. Cameras always intrigued me. My first “treat” after being stationed in Germany was a 35 mm Voiglander (which I still have). Our Kaserne had a darkroom setup we could use where I taught myself how to develop B&W film. When it became known to leadership I could do this, I became an unofficial unit photographer and later for the 37th Engineer Group from time to time. Interesting assignments came my way. I think the reason I made E5 in two years, despite being a nearly permanent member of the 1st Sgt’s “volunteer” after hours work party, was my exposure to the bosses.

  10. In the late 80’s I took an adult photography class and started using a professional lab for developing and printing. When I was in ordering a custom enlargement a pro was over at the other counter looking over 3 contact print proof sheets with a loupe. 108 images and he only wanted 3…

  11. I had a fair side gig shooting pictures back in the 80’s in the UK. Ran a Nikon F2, fully manual, weighed a ton. Bought 35 mm film in 250 frame rolls from a warehouse in Ilford and reloaded the camera cartridges in my darkroom that doubled as my kitchen. I’d burn through a half dozen 36 shot rolls to get a half dozen marketable shots. Get it right in the viewfinder, bracket the exposures a couple frames, take copious notes, and hope you didn’t scratch the negative during the processing. Good times, good times.

  12. > But the old school cameras did work pretty well for their technology and the time period.

    They worked just fine, though they were expensive per-photo.

    I use a cheap digital camera when I need to take pictures. I use a little MP3 player to listen to audiobooks. I use paper when I need a map.

    I only rarely carry a phone, the privacy issues outweight the convenience as I rate things.

  13. All- Thanks for the comments. Yes, I too took hundreds of shots to get one or two that were ‘usable’… sigh Yes, you can still get film for the old cameras and Polaroid is still making film for those ‘instant’ cameras.

  14. Ah, yes… 120 film – 12 shots, 6 good ones; 35mm film – 36 shots, 6 good ones; digital – 2500 shots, 6 good ones…

  15. Exact one was given to me in 1962, sold it much to my regret in 69. Still have some bulbs in a box somewhere. Simple and took excellent pictures. Remember going to N.Y. World Fair with pockets bulging with flash bulbs.