Share your favorites on Show & Tell

Photographer's tool to make children smile during photography

In Cameras > Camera Accessories > Show & Tell and Tools and Hardware > Whistles > Show & Tell.
Cameras689 of 1456Henry Clay Extended Body Camera (special order), c18961969-yashica tl electro x 35mm-1st electronic slr camera.
15
Love it
0
Like it

Horseradishman1Horseradishman1 loves this.
AnnaBAnnaB loves this.
JohnsmithJohnsmith loves this.
ZillaZilla loves this.
f64imagerf64imager loves this.
DeanteaksDeanteaks loves this.
fortapachefortapache loves this.
ho2cultchaho2cultcha loves this.
inkyinky loves this.
rniedermanrniederman loves this.
blunderbuss2blunderbuss2 loves this.
aghcollectaghcollect loves this.
ManikinManikin loves this.
walksoftlywalksoftly loves this.
pops52pops52 loves this.
See 13 more
Add to collection

    Please create an account, or Log in here

    If you don't have an account, create one here.


    Create a Show & TellReport as inappropriate


    Posted 11 years ago

    hotairfan
    (388 items)

    This tool was used in the late 1800's to assist the photographer to help children (and sometimes adults) smile when their picture was taken. You probably heard the expression "watch the birdie", well this is a photographer's birdie.
    You began by filling the cup below the brass bird with water. The photographer would then tell the photographic model to "watch the birdie" and he would blow slightly in the rubber tubing and the bird would warble like a canary and the beak and tail would flicker up and down. I display this at many historical shows and it always makes the people in the audience smile and sometimes laugh.
    As a child, you might of had, as I did, a plastic bird whistle that you filled with water and it would warble similar to this.
    I saw one on the Ebay auction site and the seller listed as a tea kettle whistle. It is not a tea kettle whistle. It's a photographer's birdie.

    logo
    Camera Accessories
    See all
    GRAFLEX 5X7 CUT FILM MAGAZINE (BAG MAG), WITH 12 SEPTUMS/sse/223085
    GRAFLEX 5X7 CUT FILM MAGAZINE (BAG ...
    $50
    Vintage Leica Sign Logo Hardboard Plaque RARE Promotional Only
    Vintage Leica Sign Logo Hardboard P...
    $150
    Vintage Fujifilm FinePix S9500 Digital Camera TESTED & WORKING (7D) MO#666
    Vintage Fujifilm FinePix S9500 Digi...
    $8
    Flash Bar for Vintage Polaroid OneStep & Folding Instant Film Land Cameras
    Flash Bar for Vintage Polaroid OneS...
    $9
    logo
    GRAFLEX 5X7 CUT FILM MAGAZINE (BAG MAG), WITH 12 SEPTUMS/sse/223085
    GRAFLEX 5X7 CUT FILM MAGAZINE (BAG ...
    $50
    See all

    Comments

    1. pops52 pops52, 11 years ago
      hotairfan, You have some very unique items! Thanks for posting!
    2. inky inky, 11 years ago
      Made me smile!...:-)

    Want to post a comment?

    Create an account or login in order to post a comment.