Share your favorites on Show & Tell
Post an item or

Failing Optical Co. Business Card – What’s in a name?

In Cards > Trade Cards > Show & Tell and Cameras > Camera Accessories > Show & Tell.
JohnKratz's loves85 of 158Schaub Multiplying Camera, c.1900Flammang's Patent Revolving Back Camera (front focus pattern), c.1886-98
12
Love it
1
Like it

ttomtuckerttomtucker likes this.
AnythingObscureAnythingObscure loves this.
f64imagerf64imager loves this.
pw-collectorpw-collector loves this.
BinaryReflexBinaryReflex loves this.
ManikinManikin loves this.
HunterHunter loves this.
walksoftlywalksoftly loves this.
JohnKratzJohnKratz loves this.
SEAN68SEAN68 loves this.
vetraio50vetraio50 loves this.
aghcollectaghcollect loves this.
Alan2310Alan2310 loves this.
See 11 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 9 years ago

    Share

    rniederman
    (346 items)

    Over the years I’ve been amused with odd names of photographic equipment and makers that occasionally appear. “Failing Optical” of Buffalo, N.Y. is one of my favorites. After all, how does that name instill consumer confidence?

    Best known for spectacles and eye glasses and “everything optical,” the Failing Optical Company also sold Kodak cameras and equipment under its own name. I know of a really nice red bellows American folding plate camera with a “Failing Optical” maker’s label, but I just cannot seem to get the collector to part with it.

    Anyhow, for everyone’s enjoyment here is an original Failing Optical Co. business card (late 1890s to early 1900s). Let’s face it ... it’s a silly name worth a smile.

    logo
    Trade Cards
    See all
    Great Dr. Kilner Medicine Trade Card with Anatomic View of the Body
    Great Dr. Kilner Medicine Trade Car...
    $101
    Lot 350+ Victorian Trade Cards Puzzle Tobacco Medicine Soap Fantasy Calendars
    Lot 350+ Victorian Trade Cards Puzz...
    $56
    Hunt's Remedy Victorian Medicine Trade card William Clarke Providence RI
    Hunt's Remedy Victorian Medicine Tr...
    $11
    Group of 22 pcs Victorian Scrap / Trade Card Art
    Group of 22 pcs Victorian Scrap / T...
    $29
    logo
    Great Dr. Kilner Medicine Trade Card with Anatomic View of the Body
    Great Dr. Kilner Medicine Trade Car...
    $101
    See all

    Comments

    1. Alan2310 Alan2310, 9 years ago
      Great Antique Card, graphic are awesome.
      Typical of Victorian era.
      Love it.
      Alan
    2. walksoftly walksoftly, 9 years ago
      I think they should have used Mr Gray's name!
    3. Belltown Belltown, 9 years ago
      Briefly, we took our kids to a dentist named Dr. Ow. A few years back, I went to an orthopedic surgeon whose last name is pronounced "aching"....
    4. rniederman rniederman, 9 years ago
      Thanks!
      vetraio50
      aghcollect
      Alan
    5. rniederman rniederman, 9 years ago
      Thanks!
      John
      Sean
    6. SEAN68 SEAN68, 9 years ago
      your very welcome Rob!!!
    7. rniederman rniederman, 9 years ago
      Thanks!
      Hunter
      David
    8. scottvez scottvez, 9 years ago
      It must have been really important to him to see his name on his Failing business!

      scott
    9. rniederman rniederman, 9 years ago
      Thanks!
      Manikin
      Scott
    10. rniederman rniederman, 9 years ago
      Thanks!
      pw-collector
      BinaryReflex
    11. Sstrave, 3 years ago
      I have a lovely thermometer with the Failing Optical Co logo at Main St in Buffalo.
      Got it for my wife because it had a blue fluid in the thermometer.
    12. rniederman rniederman, 3 years ago
      Hi, Sstrave. Please post the thermometer.
    13. rniederman rniederman, 3 years ago
      Thanks!
      ttomtucker
      AnythingObscure

    Want to post a comment?

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