Girls’ Gadgets of the 1920’s & 30’s

By Chip Chick

July 28, 2005 at 2:17 am

Camerasyesteryeae_1Lately some companies have been pushing
out Digital Cameras geared towards women such as the recent Harajuku
Lovers Digital Camera from HP.
At first I thought that it was about time that companies had started taking notice of the females in the
gadget universe. Little did I know that as far back as 1928 there was a
company producing cameras geared towards a female audience. From 1928 to 1933,
Kodak manufactured several colored and deco-styled cameras that were designed
to attract women. Among the camera kits designed was the Vanity Kodak Ensemble
outfit, which included a color-coordinated camera, lipstick holder, compact,
mirror and change purse in a fitted case. Similar models included the more
common  Ensemble, and the
very rare Coquette. There was
also the Series III
Vest Pocket Vanity Kodak, a metal and embossed leather camera came in
Bluebird (deep blue), Cockatoo (green), Sea Gull (gray), Redbreast (red), and
Jenny Wren (brown). There was even a Girl Scout camera, and
Camp Fire Girls’ Kodak camera that were each
manufactured with scout logos imprinted on the body and cases. For more
information on these fashionable cameras of yester year check out http://www.digitalfxinc.com/kodak.



  • Shiny Shiny

    July 29th, 2005 12:52 pm

    Girls’ Gadgets of the 1920’s

    Turns out it’s not just us modern ladies that like a bit of girlified gadgetry. Back in the day you could get Kodak cameras designed specifically to appeal to the fairer sex. Chip Chick has a neat little piece detailing

  • Boing Boing

    July 29th, 2005 1:15 pm

    Prehistoric woman-targeted gadgets

    Here’s a great article on the early days of women-targeted gadgets: “From 1928 to 1933, Kodak manufactured several colored and deco-styled cameras that were designed to attract women. Among the camera kits designed was the Vanity Kodak Ensemble outfit…

  • Lazarhat

    July 29th, 2005 1:57 pm

    I actually own a Kodak similar to the Vanity, issued in 1925, but alas it is silver and black. It still takes pictures (if you can find the 620/120 film). It closes down to about two inches thick and features a little aluminum strip on the front of the faceplate that swings out to act as a sort of tripod on flat surfaces.

  • Gina Hughes

    July 29th, 2005 2:48 pm

    Great Find! Those cameras are pretty hip, wouldn’t mind actually finding one at an antiques store just to have as a collectible. Any tips?

  • chipchick

    July 29th, 2005 2:54 pm

    Good question – I can’t find them anywhere. I guess eBay is the best bet for now :(

  • jimf

    July 29th, 2005 2:57 pm

    I have one each of the blue and the green Vanity Kodaks…they are pretty cool retro items. I think I picked them up many years ago at rummage sales.

  • SadPunk

    July 29th, 2005 3:17 pm

    Gina, you’re more likely to find old cameras for cheap prices at estate sales than at yard sales or thrift shops. It’ll take some looking, but they’re out there. eBay is good, but not as much ghoulish fun (IMO) as pawing through the possessions of the recently departed.

    Mmmmm, voyeurism.

  • Words

    July 29th, 2005 4:08 pm

    Vanity Cameras, et al.

    Chip Chick: Girls’ Gadgets of the 1920’s & 30’s Ok. I’ll stop complaining about people using custom cell phone covers to ‘express their individuality’….

  • Jessica Gregory

    July 29th, 2005 4:55 pm

    If you are looking for film to fit in this camera try Film for Classics in Rochester, New York (yes, they do mailorder).

  • Jessica Gregory

    July 29th, 2005 4:57 pm

    If you are looking for film to fit in this camera try Film for Classics in Rochester, New York (yes, they do mailorder).

  • lazarhat

    July 29th, 2005 8:30 pm

    In my case I bought the camera at a garage sale back in the late 70s for 2 dollars! The guy wanted 12 but since I was a youngster with dreams of being a photojournalist I must have touched his heartstrings and he practically gave it to me. I also have a way retro Yashica D 3×5 Reflex (you look down through the top and out through a sighting lens above the normal lens) from the 60’s that I literally got for free from my faculty advisor at my high school student newspaper. Both are highly collectable and I consider them valuable enough to have lugged them along with me through many interstate relocations.

    -Laz

  • Historiological Notes

    August 2nd, 2005 7:14 am

    Women’s gadgets anno 1928

    Chip Chick has an interesting post on cameras aimed at women in the early twentieth century. Nice pictures too.

Subscribe

Chip Chicklets