Soho Cadet Camera
Soho Ltd
| Name: | Soho Cadet |
| Type: | Folding Rollfilm |
| Manufacturer: | Soho Ltd |
| Country of Origin: | United Kingdom |
| Construction: | There were two forms of this camera, both illustrated below. The first was a folding bed rollfilm camera of conventional form, but made of bakelite. The camera is maroon in colour. The second was a strut format camera, designated the Model B, rather similar in form to other bakelite cameras of the period such as the Kodak Hawkette No 2. The two models shared many common components. Both have a brilliant view-finder, which swivels through 90 degrees for portrait or landscape format. |
| Production Period: | Unknown |
| Model / Variant: | Folding bed |
| Plate / Film Size: | 120 rollfilm |
| Lens: | Meniscus |
| Shutter: | T & I (single speed) |
| Movements: | None |
| Dimensions (w x h x l): | |
| Date of this Example: | c1930 |
| Serial Number: | None |
| Availability: |
|
| Inventory Number: | 427 |
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Description
The Soho Cadet is a maroon coloured bakelite folding-bed camera for 6 x 9 photos on 120 rollfilm. This example is in good condition and is complete with its original box. The box is worn and faded, but is complete. The main slip over sleeve is damaged.
As far as I am aware, this camera was produced for retail sale. I have not yet found any evidence to suggest that it was used as a premium camera and the quality of the packaging suggests that it was intended for retail rather than premium use.
Inside the back of the camera it is marked with patent 330438/29, which apparently relates to the use of a stencil to cut the bellows. Note that the Model B (see below) carries a completely different number.
| Model / Variant: | Model B (Strut form) |
| Plate / Film Size: | 120 rollfilm |
| Lens: | Meniscus |
| Shutter: | T & I (single speed) |
| Movements: | None |
| Dimensions (w x h x l): | |
| Date of this Example: | c1930 |
| Serial Number: | None |
| Availability: |
|
| Inventory Number: | 574 |
Photos copyright © 2014 David Purcell. Do not use without permission. | ||||||||
Description
The Model B Soho Cadet is a maroon coloured bakelite strut camera for 6 x 9 photos on 120 rollfilm. This example is in good condition although a little grubby and with some marks through use on the bakelite body shell.
This version is marked explicitly as the Model B. Does this mean that folding version was effectively the Model A?
The camera has two fold out footrests attached to the inside face of the lens standard, one for each of landscape and portrait orientation.
Inside the back of the camera it is marked with patent 22350/29, though I have not been able to identify this patent number.
Notes
The Cadet was available in two formats: a conventional folding bed camera as described here, but also as a strut format camera (similar to the Kodak Hawkette No 2 or Rajar No 6).