V.P. Twin Bakelite Pocket Camera
E. Elliot Ltd.
| Name: | V.P. Twin Bakelite Pocket Camera |
| Manufacturer: | E. Elliot Ltd. |
| Country of Origin: | United Kingdom, Birmingham |
| Construction: | Moulded bakelite in two sections. |
| Plate / Film Size: | 127 rollfilm (16 pictures 1⅝" x 1¼") |
| Lens: | BOLCo Lens, f12.5 |
| Shutter: | Simple flip-flop |
| Movements: | None |
| Dimensions: | 9 x 7 x 5.5 cm |
| Production Period: | 1936 - 1959 |
The V.P. Twin Bakelite Pocket camera and the companies involved in its manufacture are described in detail in an excellent article by David Gardner in Photographica World (2004 / 2). This describes a relationship with Coronet Ltd. and there is evidence to suggest that Elliot probably made the bakelite bodies for the Coronet Midget and Vogue, while Coronet made the shutter for the VP Twin. In the 1930s, the Coronet factory was adjacent to the Elliots works in Birmingham.
The camera was made over a long period and several variations exist.
| Model / Variant: | Black without name plate |
| Date of this Example: | 1930s |
| Serial Number: | None |
| Availability: |
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| Inventory Number: | 284 |
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Description
Plain black plastic version of the V.P. Twin camera, without the name label. The camera is grubby and shows signs of wear.
It came with a brown canvas case, made to fit the camera, so presumably it is original.
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| Model / Variant: | Brown without name plate |
| Date of this Example: | 1930s |
| Serial Number: | None |
| Availability: |
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| Inventory Number: | 547 |
Photos copyright © 2016 David Purcell. Do not use without permission. | ||||||||||||
Description
This example of the V.P. Twin is finished in plain brown plastic, without the name label.
The camera came with its original packaging, including a separate sheet of folded instructions. The carton is pink in colour and shows drawings of the camera, front and back and the size of the photographs on each side. The distinctive yacht trademark is shown on the bottom face. The top lid is missing. On the tuck in flaps it states "Every part British made".
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The instructions fold out to a sheet that is 25 x 20 cm and is remarkably detailed for such a simple camera. Click on the thumbnail to open the instruction in pdf format. |
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| Model / Variant: | Black with name plate |
| Date of this Example: | 1950s |
| Serial Number: | None |
| Availability: |
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| Inventory Number: | 266 |
<Photographs to be added>
Description
V.P. Twin camera finished in black, with original box & instructions. The V.P. Twin camera was made over a long period; this particular model is likely to date to the early 1950s as this is when the faceplate with the distinctive 'L' yacht trademark and BOLCO name was introduced. Consequently it is an oddity in my collection, where the cut-off date is nominally about 1938!
The camera arrived in its original sales carton in yellow and green in good condition. It was also complete with A5 sized instruction sheet printed in blue, which is in very good condition. There is nothing obvious on the sheet to indicate the date.
Notes
The V.P. Twin camera is available in a number of colours and variations (such as, with and without the nameplate). The common colours are black and brown, but other colours are also known to exist. These include a bright mottled blue and like the blue Coronet Midget, this commands significantly higher prices than the more common colours.
These cameras quite often turn up with their original packaging, which comes in several forms. The most common is the later yellow and green box; the earlier pink packaging with the instructions printed on the outside is a little harder to find.