One man’s trash …

Hi, my name’s Tone and I’m a cameraholic.

On a quick visit to the Hobart Resource Centre (local tip shop) the other day, I made a bee line for my favourite cabinet – an old glass-door fridge where the keep the camera gear. I check it every few weeks, often leaving empty handed.

To my absolute delight, this dusty trio of old box camera’s stared back at me, looking for a new home. They spoke to me, they had been together for a long time and did not want to be separated, though they had been priced for individual sale.

Perhaps someone was moving, having a clean-out, or clearing a deceased estate, they did not whisper their history, how they ended up in the tip shop remains a mystery to me but what a find and I feel, great timing.

I gently gathered them up and headed for the counter, trying to think of an appropriate figure to barter for the trio. I didn’t low ball the tags total, but I left very happy with my treasure and headed off to work.

That night, I cleaned them up, they are in great condition for their age, conducted some research and discovered the Coronet D-20 that I thought would be the least valuable camera, is actually a little on the rare side and worth almost three times what I had paid for all of them. I would call that a win – not that I plan on selling them, they will find a home in my slowly growing collection of old or interesting cameras – and stay together.

Here’s a little about each of them:

Kodak Brownie Six-20 Model C
Manufactured or assembled in Great Britain from 1953 to 1957.
This one is a 1953 model as the face plate changed from black
enamel to “pajama” stripes and the advance button of the film and trigger from metal to plastic.
Rarity in France: Uncommon (in non-specialized garage sales)
Ebay: around $50 depending on condition. SOURCE

Kodak Brownie Flash III
The Kodak Brownie Flash II, III and IV were made by Kodak Ltd. in England from 1957-1960. They were improved versions of the Brownie Models C, D, E, and F. The Flash II has a slider for close-ups and a tripod bush, the Flash III and IV have the close-up slider and added a yellow “cloud” filter, a cable release socket plus a shutter lock for long exposures.
Each is synchronised for flash with Kodak’s screw-and-pin flash fitting on the opposite side to the controls. SOURCE
Ebay: around $50 depending on condition.

Coronet D20 Box camera
Introduced in 1937, the D20 is similar to the model B20 except for the following: Big, flip-up viewfinders; Square format (12 images sized 6″ x 6″); Stamped geometric decorations; strap lugs on the top of the camera.
Two aperture choices (f16 and f22) with a fixed shutter speed, plus bulb mode. Both aperture and shutter speed are controlled by pull-out switches above the shutter release lever. DOF at f16 is 8′ 6″ to infinity; at f22 7′ to infinity. A supplementary ‘close up’ lens was available for subjects between 5′ and 7′.
Accepts both 120 and 620 rollfilm.
Made in England, but some variants have inscriptions on lacquered background on the nickel plated plate are in French SOURCE
Ebay: $150 depending on condition – only one listed when checked.

---

To add to my confession, the very next day, after watching an ad on Gumtree for three weeks and receiving an email that the it would soon expire, I engaged in polite negotiations with a reluctant mainland seller where a price that we were both kind-of happy with was reached, I hesitantly purchased yet another second-hand camera.

This is not a camera I need, but rather one I have wanted for a few years now. For me, a little indulgence. They don’t make them anymore, are much sought after and rarely come up for sale in Australia, especially in mint condition with just over 1200 shots. It arrived today and is a magnificent piece of modern history. I’m smitten.

More will be revealed in a future post – but, I make an undertaking to list two of my cameras for sale in a few weeks, just to make sure if this is the keeper – and after using it today, I’m pretty sure it will be – sheer Joy!!

I might tease you next post with a few shots from today, before the little reveal and keep you guessing.
Thanks for visiting – and joining me in therapy 😀