Bell and Howell Electric Eye 127, 1958
Scope and Contents
Box camera; eye-level optical finder; automatic diaphragm; 127 film; 4 x 4 cm negative; peg and screw for flash attachment. Silver enamel and black leatherette, leather case. (McKeown, p. 123)
Dates
- Creation: 1958
Creator
- Bell & Howell (Manufacturer, Organization)
Access
This material is open for research use by any registered reader.
Biographical / Historical
The Electric Eye 127 is a cast metal-bodied box camera for 4x4 cm pictures on 127 rollfilm. It was introduced in 1958 by Bell and Howell.
The 1938 Kodak Super Six-20 was the first camera to offer photocell-controlled autoexposure, but fewer than 730 were ever sold. Bell and Howell's Electric Eye 127 brought autoexposure to the popular snapshooter market, in a whimsically-styled cast-metal body.
A selenium photocell adjusts the two-bladed diaphragm in response to the scene brightness. The automatic exposure control can be overridden by opening the small door below the lens and moving the slide adjuster.
The Electric Eye 127 was offered in two finishes: black leatherette on a silver body, or grey tweed on a black body.
Extent
1 item (1 camera) : metal, plastic, glass, leatherette ; 7 X 9.5 X 12.5 cm
Language of Materials
English
Repository Details
Part of the The University of Tulsa, McFarlin Library, Department of Special Collections & University Archives Repository
McFarlin Library
University of Tulsa
2933 E. 6th St
Tulsa 74104-3123 USA
(918) 631-2496
speccoll@utulsa.edu