Comments on: Girls’ Gadgets of the 1920’s & 30’s

By: Historiological Notes

Historiological Notes — Tue, 02 Aug 2005 12:14:54 +0000

Women’s gadgets anno 1928

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

By: lazarhat

lazarhat — Sat, 30 Jul 2005 01:30:00 +0000

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

By: Jessica Gregory

Jessica Gregory — Fri, 29 Jul 2005 21:57:05 +0000

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

By: Jessica Gregory

Jessica Gregory — Fri, 29 Jul 2005 21:55:03 +0000

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

By: Words

Words — Fri, 29 Jul 2005 21:08:12 +0000

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’….

By: SadPunk

SadPunk — Fri, 29 Jul 2005 20:17:15 +0000

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.

By: jimf

jimf — Fri, 29 Jul 2005 19:57:16 +0000

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.

By: chipchick

chipchick — Fri, 29 Jul 2005 19:54:47 +0000

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

By: Gina Hughes

Gina Hughes — Fri, 29 Jul 2005 19:48:24 +0000

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?

By: Lazarhat

Lazarhat — Fri, 29 Jul 2005 18:57:12 +0000

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.

By: Boing Boing

Boing Boing — Fri, 29 Jul 2005 18:15:46 +0000

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…

By: Shiny Shiny

Shiny Shiny — Fri, 29 Jul 2005 17:52:21 +0000

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