This sturdy wooden box houses a street photographer's camera and developing kit. Commercial cameras such as this are extremely rare as they were often used until they fell apart or were overlooked by collectors. The robust nature of their work means he craftsmanship used to produce this kind of camera was quite different to that of the personal cameras manufactured by companies like Kodak and Voigtlander.

This example has a 'Compur' shutter which along with the lens and bellows has been built into the front of the camera. The wooden sides are plastered with examples of the photographers work while the eye-hole on the top aided the photographer who developed the images inside the wooden camera case. This style of street camera bears a remarkable similarity to other street cameras in use in Greece and Turkey.

References
Magic Lanterns, Optical Toys and Cameras, Chrsitie' Auction catalogue, May 2005, p. 53
Photographica and Film, Auction Team Kohln catalogue September 2006.
http://www.vintagephoto.tv/mandelette.shtml

The camera was made by the German company Compur and has been mounted in a home made box which was made between 1920 and 1950.

Street photographer's camera and accessories, wood / metal / glass, Compur, Germany, 1920-1950

A street photographers camera that consists of a Compur camera mounted in a wooden combination developing and printing box. The box has been painted green and the folding camera has been fitted with a AEISS 1.4 lens. Mounted on one side of the box behind a panel of glass is a set of three black and white photographs, a soldier with a pipe, a bride and groom and a portrait of a young man in uniform. On the opposite side of the box is a set of six black and white passport sized photos of a young man. There is a hole in the back of the box to which a black fabric sleeve has been attached. A black fabric hood has also been around the top and sides of the back of the box using press studs . There is a wooden carry handle on the top of the box. A tripod and print holder accompany the camera.

Made: Compur Monitors GmbH & Co. KG; Germany; 1920 - 1950

H8244

1920 - 1950