willeica Posted September 12 Share #1121 Posted September 12 (edited) Advertisement (gone after registration) On 9/11/2025 at 3:52 PM, willeica said: I will ask David Gardner at PCCGB. He specialises in collecting British cameras and has encyclopaedic knowledge about them. William David Gardner has replied with an article below by John Furlong on the MIRCO camera. There are fascinating Super Ikonta and Butlins connections, if that makes any sense. The article is well worth reading. David also gave me John Furlong's email which I can supply by PM to anyone who is interested. David has a MIRCO catalogue and he sent a photo of the cover, see below. He says that the contents are quite amusing. 33_Mirco camera article J Furlong PW_142PW_142.pdf Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! William Edited September 12 by willeica 3 Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! William ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/318752-nicht-immer-nur-kaviar-english-version/?do=findComment&comment=5862480'>More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted September 12 Posted September 12 Hi willeica, Take a look here Nicht immer nur Kaviar ... (English Version). I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
wlaidlaw Posted September 12 Share #1122 Posted September 12 AXCO is still going amazingly. William many thanks for getting that info. Very interesting. Wilson 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
250swb Posted September 12 Share #1123 Posted September 12 (edited) 5 hours ago, willeica said: David Gardner has replied with an article below by John Furlong on the MIRCO camera. There are fascinating Super Ikonta and Butlins connections, if that makes any sense. The article is well worth reading. David also gave me John Furlong's email which I can supply by PM to anyone who is interested. David has a MIRCO catalogue and he sent a photo of the cover, see below. He says that the contents are quite amusing. 33_Mirco camera article J Furlong PW_142PW_142.pdf 1.58 MB · 7 downloads Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! William Wow! Super detective work, and so interesting. So maybe this camera is a bit like the more modern Fuji GW690 (6x9 Texas Leica's) rangefinders that were used for tourist photography shots at places like Mount Fuji/the world? As a kid going to the seaside there was always a photographer on the sea front snapping people and handing out a card if they wanted the photo. My brother and I were photographed with a a pair of chimpanzees (when these things were allowed), and the running joke was my Dad saying he took the wrong ones home. Edited September 12 by 250swb 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
willeica Posted September 12 Share #1124 Posted September 12 1 hour ago, 250swb said: Wow! Super detective work, and so interesting. So maybe this camera is a bit like the more modern Fuji GW690 (6x9 Texas Leica's) rangefinders that were used for tourist photography shots at places like Mount Fuji/the world? As a kid going to the seaside there was always a photographer on the sea front snapping people and handing out a card if they wanted the photo. My brother and I were photographed with a a pair of chimpanzees (when these things were allowed), and the running joke was my Dad saying he took the wrong ones home. The Butlins story involves going from the Zeiss Super Ikonta to a much more sturdy item that would take the same film type and lens. One of the most popular cameras for seaside 'walkies' photography was the Leica 250 - see end of this https://gohomeonapostcard.wordpress.com/companies/barkers-cine-snaps-part-1-lowestoft/barkers-the-cameras/ Apparently, one of the most popular times for photos was between 7am and 8am, when people went out for a walk before the landlady served breakfast at 8am. My only seaside photo from that era is a ferrotype (metal) image of my father and myself with my brother and sister from the early 1950s. A whole era in photography has disappeared with the smartphone. William 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wlaidlaw Posted September 13 Share #1125 Posted September 13 (edited) I have a Leica 250FF Reporter that was one of 16 owned by William Foster Brigham of Bridlington. They were one of the largest Seaside Walking Photographers in the UK and with the 250FF and 250GG camera's capacity of 250 images and the ability to remove part exposed cassettes (KOOBF), they were a popular investment for these companies. They were not cheap at around £37 each in the 1930's, plus the lens and spare KOOBF cassettes. Unlike what many people think the ABCOO knife is made for splitting the film on the 250FF and 250GG cameras. My Combat Graflex has a similar knife but in that case it is built into the camera. Unfortunately, my 250FF has been away for the last 8 years being repaired and I am beginning to doubt I will ever see it again. Mine comes with an early nickel plated Summar. Wilson Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Edited September 13 by wlaidlaw 8 Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/318752-nicht-immer-nur-kaviar-english-version/?do=findComment&comment=5862798'>More sharing options...
pgk Posted September 13 Share #1126 Posted September 13 18 hours ago, wlaidlaw said: AXCO is still going amazingly. William many thanks for getting that info. Very interesting. Wilson When I worked at R G Lewis ~1980, AXCO were the repairers we used back then. They used to collect and deliver in central London. One of the few long lasting repairers by the sound of it. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pyrogallol Posted September 13 Share #1127 Posted September 13 Advertisement (gone after registration) 5 hours ago, wlaidlaw said: I have a Leica 250FF Reporter that was one of 16 owned by William Foster Brigham of Bridlington. They were one of the largest Seaside Walking Photographers in the UK and with the 250FF and 250GG camera's capacity of 250 images and the ability to remove part exposed cassettes (KOOBF), they were a popular investment for these companies. They were not cheap at around £37 each in the 1930's, plus the lens and spare KOOBF cassettes. Unlike what many people think the ABCOO knife is made for splitting the film on the 250FF and 250GG cameras. My Combat Graflex has a similar knife but in that case it is built into the camera. Unfortunately, my 250FF has been away for the last 8 years being repaired and I am beginning to doubt I will ever see it again. Mine comes with an early nickel plated Summar. Wilson Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! I now have Brigham Bridlington cassette No. 52. Will post the sad story of how it ended up with me when appropriate. 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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