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Kewpie, No. 3, 1915 - 1922

 Item
Identifier: 2008-027-1-4-2

Scope and Contents

Box camera; 125 roll film; image size 8 X 10.77 cm; meniscus lens; T and I rotary shutter; both side and bottom tripod sockets. No serial number; "124" scratched into rear plate; worn condition; broken and fraying strap; viewer cloudy.

Dates

  • Creation: Majority of material found within 1915 - 1922

Creator

Access

This material is open for research use by any registered reader.

Biographical / Historical

The Conley Camera Company of Rochester, Minnesota, was a little-known player in the arena of early 20th-Century photography. Selling their products mainly through the Sears catalog, Conley made cameras and photographic accessories from 1899 to 1927. The majority of their cameras were by no means high-end; Conley made inexpensive cameras for the masses. That does not mean that they were poorly-made--some Conley features were downright ingenious, and their hand-crafted mahogany, cherry, and nickel-plated cameras were things of beauty. Although they would never become serious competitors with industry giants such as Kodak, their influence was widespread thanks to their relationship with the Sears catalog. In the years before the Mayo Clinic's rise to worldwide fame, the Conley Camera Co was arguably the most successful enterprise in Rochester, MN, up to that time.

The Kewpie Box Camera was manufactured by Conley Camera Company from approximately 1915 - 1922. It was an inexpensive box camera, that came in various sizes designated by model number. The box was constructed of wood covered in seal grain keratol (leatherette). The metal parts were either nickel plated or oxidized black finished.

It contained a genuine meniscus achromatic lens with fixed focus. The shutter was a Conley time and instantaneous. Two view finders and two tripod sockets were also provided. It was simple to operate. A distinctive rotating disk on the front of the camera lens provided easily adjusted f-stops.

Extent

1 item (1 camera) : glass, metal, wood, cardboard ; 11 X 13.5 X 15 cm

Language of Materials

English

Repository Details

Part of the The University of Tulsa, McFarlin Library, Department of Special Collections & University Archives Repository

Contact:
McFarlin Library
University of Tulsa
2933 E. 6th St
Tulsa 74104-3123 USA
(918) 631-2496