Sportie Carbine Box Camera

Houghton-Butcher Manufacturing Co.

Name:	Sportie Carbine
Type:	Box camera
Manufacturer:	W. Butcher & Co.
Country of Origin:	United Kingdom
Construction:
Production Period:	Unknown

 

Plate / Film Size:	C27 Carbine Films (1J) 127 rollfilm
Lens:	Simple meniscus (TBC)
Shutter:	Simple flip-flop shutter (T & I)
Movements:	None
Dimensions (w x h x l):
Date of this Example:	c1924
Serial Number:	None
Availability:	Common  Uncommon  Hard to Find  Scarce
Inventory Number:	581

Description

The Sportie Carbine is a basic box camera for 127 rollfilm with wire frame view finder and no reflecting finders. The camera is made of paper covered cardboard; the covering bears a green and black striated pattern. The rear of the camera is hinged to provide access to load the film.

Film label appears inside the rear door with an image of a heron sitting on a Butcher's rollfilm. This symbol seems to first appear in Butcher adverts in the BJPA in 1923; it appears again in 1924 but not 1925 (and thereafter Butcher has formally merged with Houghton, where films are then marketed under the Ensign name). This suggests that the camera dates to about 1924 or so, but this has as yet to be verified.

The camera has a rectangular badge on the front face that shows the name as Butcher's Sportie Carbine. The Carbine name is embossed into the small carrying strap.

The camera retains its original instructions, which take the form of a small 10 page booklet entitled Butcher's "Sportie" Carbine & How to Use It.

Notes

Notes to be added.