In1897, the Japy Brothers of France had the same idea - to manufacture a camera that automatically advanced the film to the next frame for you. Literally, and with homage to George Eastman & Kodak - you pressed the button, and it would do the rest.

The spring-driven advance system on 'The Pascal' camera was wound by the operator after loading the film. In the top photograph, it is the brass ring on the bottom of the camera that would both wind the special-sized rollfilm and prepare the camera for making exposures. The yellow dial on top of the camera (above) indicated the number of exposures remaining to be made. The special rollfilm allowed a maximum of 12 exposures.

Perhaps the concept was a little ahead of its time, since the camera was not a great commercial success. As such, very few of these historically significant cameras exist today.