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2026-08-27 - Spartus Press Flash Camera

 

The Spartus Press Flash Camera was originally introduced by the Utility Manufacturing Company of New York in 1939, and later manufactured by the Spartus Corporation (and its successor, Herold Manufacturing Company) of Chicago, Illinois. This camera was the first commercially sold camera to feature a built-in flash reflector.

Key Features:

  • Body Material: Heavy, ribbed black Bakelite plastic moulding.
  • Lens: Features an f/11 / 120mm meniscus lens with simple, adjustable settings for bright and cloudy / flash.
  • Exposure Control: Features a simple slide tab underneath the lens providing two aperture settings: Bright (f/22) and Cloudy & Flash (f/16).
  • Shutter: Single-speed rotary shutter 1/30s to 1/40s with a Time mode for long exposures.
  • Viewfinder: Eye-level reverse Galilean optical viewfinder.
  • Film Type: Uses 120 roll film and produces eight 2 ¼ “ x 3 ¼ “ exposures per roll.
  • Flash: Accepts Edison screw-base (E27) flashbulbs, such as GE #11 or Sylvania Press #40.


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