Expo Police Camera. 1911

Before exclusively acquiring early wood and brass cameras, some delightful non-wood stuff made its way through my collection. While cleaning my archives, I came across pictures of cameras that once held honored places in my collection.

Shown here is a really cute (small) camera made by the Expo Camera Company of New York. The company specialized in subminiature cameras; including one that looked like a pocket watch. The Expo Police camera is not well known and was originally advertised for $5.00. It made twelve 30 x 28 mm pictures on roll film.

The camera is black painted metal with nickel plated parts. It is relatively small: 2½ x 3-5/8 x 1 inches. Completing the outfit is the original leather case with embossed gold Expo logo and rare cardboard box. Look closely and you will be able to see a period rendering of a policeman on the lid.

The Expo Police Camera was not designed as a true a ‘detective’ and was sold as a novelty item. It was advertised as “just the thing for summer by people at pleasure resorts who want to take pictures of their friends without being observed.”

Comment: Unfortunately the scanned print, before digital photography was practical, does not have all the great detail that I am able to do today.