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Vintage-Mercury-II-CX-27

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35mm Cameras8 of 951960/1-agfa ambi sillette 35mm rangefinder camera.Can someone identify this camera?
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    Posted 8 years ago

    zenkitty
    (1 item)

    Mercury II Serial Number 95399
    Lens Number 68730

    This camera is half frame and was not used very much mainly because, I believe, that my parents really didn't know how to use it. The camera appears to be in good condition but with rust on the hinge. The leather is not loose and there is still film in the camera. The box contains the original price tag, manual, registration card, a dated letter stating that an adjustment was made, and various odds and ends that were in the box.

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    Comments

    1. PhilDMorris PhilDMorris, 8 years ago
      In 1946, the Mercury II was introduced with more dials, knobs, and features.

      In 1938 Universal introduced their only serious camera, one with world class potential. This camera uses an innovative shutter system where a large wheel rotates past an adjustable-sized opening. There is a pie shaped opening in the wheel, and it allows light into the camera as the opening rotates. The second part of the shutter is a sizeable window which by narrowing the width controls the amount of time when light hits the film. The combination allowed shutter speeds of up to 1/1000 of a second. The camera was marketed in the $25 range compared to other fast shutters in Leica and Contax in the $200 to $300 ranges respectively. In an effort to go faster than the competition Universal offered the Mercury CC 1500 Super Speed which had a faster shutter than the Lieca and Contax, at 1/1500 of a second. Sadly the engineering compromises to reach this speed caused consistent failures.

      This camera sold well and boosted company revenue by over $25%. It was a hot seller until Universal shifted to wartime production of binoculars.
    2. zenkitty, 8 years ago
      Hi, and thanks. What do you think of the price tag? I can't believe that someone would have actually paid that for casual picture taking. My parents were far from that kind of money living in a two bedroom flat. This has always baffled me.

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