Italy 1949 – Compact – 35 mm – Very Rare. The Bilux, released in 1949 in Milan by the Industria Scientifico Ottica (ISO), is probably one of the most sought after cameras ever built. Produced in about 200 copies before ISO released the “Standard” and mythical “Reporter”, the Bilux is both an incredibly well built … Read more58 ISO
Bilux
Few 100s produced
United States 1946 – Compact – 35 mm – Rare. Often called the “hunchback” for obvious reasons, the Mercury was first released in 1938 by the Universal Camera Group (also known as Univex). Univex then suspended their camera-making operations during World War II to manufacture binoculars for the armed forces. The Mercury II went into … Read more57 Univex
Mercury II
Italy 1947 – Compact – 35 mm – Rare. The Duca was the second camera produced by Durst, an Italian company headquartered in Brixen, South Tyrol. It was first presented at the 24th Milan Trade Fair in September 1946 and went into production until 1952. The Duca is a quite basic and yet solid device … Read more56 Durst
Duca
Japan 1948 – Lighter – Lighter fluid – Rare. The K.K.W. Camera Lighter is very well known to camera collectors as it is often the first non-camera item to join their collection. The K.K.W. Lighter is a beautiful example of Japanese craftsmanship. It was first manufactured in 1948 in Occupied Japan as a wick lighter … Read moreK.K.W.
Camera Lighter
France 1949 – Compact – 35 mm – Infrequent. At a time when the first 35mm single lens reflex were beginning to appear, the most renowned cameras were the Leicas, with their high quality mechanics and lenses. But France had something to say with the appreciated Foca Universel. In 1938, the French government had limited … Read more42 Foca
Universel
Japan 1949 – Subminiature – 14 mm – Very Rare. The Gemflex is an incredible subminiature camera. It was produced by Showa in occupied Japan in 1949. The Gemflex not only resembles a miniature version of the well known Rolleiflex 6×6 twin lens reflex, but is operated like one. It is one of the smallest … Read more39 Showa Kogaku
Gemflex
Twin Lens miniature
England 1949 – Compact – 35 mm – Rare. The Ilford Advocate is a white-enameled die-cast aluminium alloy 35mm camera made in England by Kennedy Instruments, a subsidiary of Ilford. The Advocate was introduced in 1949 and presented as a “landmark in British camera construction”, giving “the lie to the assertion that we cannot hope … Read more38 Ilford
Advocate
The British legend
Japan 1947 – Subminiature – 16 mm – Very Rare. The Steky is a beautiful subminiature camera produced by the Asahi Musen Company starting 1947. It was then taken over by the Riken Optical Company (Ricoh) in 1950. At the time, film and processing costs were expensive so 16 mm cameras were very popular. But … Read more37 Asahi Musen
Steky (Mod. 1)
Japan 1940 – Compact – 35 mm – Rare. Created in 1930, in the Kanga district of Tokyo, the Tougodo brand was named to honor Admiral Tougo who had defeated the Russian fleet in the Baltic during the battle of Tsushima in 1905. Notably, Tougodo was recognized for its innovative camera creations and participated to … Read more34 Tougodo
Meikai No.1
Italy 1946 – Compact – 35 mm – Rare. The Elettra 2 was released by Sirio, a small Italian firm from Florence in 1946, succeeding the very simple Elettra 1 that had been out for only a few months. It is one of the Italian attempts to produce Leica type cameras in the immediate post … Read more30 Sirio
Elettra 2
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