Blair Camera Company, Boston
Petite Kamarette, 1893
| The Petite Kamarette was a
continuation of Blair's Kamaret model, in a
smaller size and image format.
Eastman had the No. 4 Kodak for 4 x 5 inch images, and No. 2 Kodak for 3.5 inch round images. Blair's Kamaret made 4 x 5 inch images, and Petite Kamarette made 3.5 inch round images. Blair's attempt to copy Eastman resulted in two well-made cameras, but was just a bit too late as Kodaks were already dominating the market when the Kamaret and Petite Kamarette came along. Further adding to slow sales numbers was the economic depression of the early 1890s. Blair's 1893 catalog describes the Petite Kamarette as follows: "Covered with genuine morocco and very beautifuly [sic] finished, the Petite is particularly desirable as a ladies camera, and makes a unique and acceptable birthday or wedding gift. Price complete with carrying case and loaded for 50 exposures, $15.00" |
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In
addition to the round image format, the Petite Kamarette was also
unusual since the carrying strap and viewing mirror were opposite one
another. A photographer carrying the camera by its handle would have to
invert it to look through the viewfinder and compose his photograph.
Inside the leather embossed front of the camera was a brass guillotine shutter and tiny brass-bound lens. The two brass levers visible above and at left were for instantaneous or time exposures. Another feature specific to the Kamaret line was the vertical slit at the rear of the camera which allowed the photographer to line up the next exposure when advancing the film. This was a forerunner of the familiar red window through which photographers read exposure numbers off paper-backed film. This specific example bears the serial number 135; very few examples of this camera are known in collections and production figures are unknown. |
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