The other day I was staring at all the boxes full of what remains of my friends camera collection (he passed away a couple months ago), wondering what the heck we are going to do with them. I looked through a couple boxes, hoping that at some point his spirit would appear and give me a sign. I came across one of the many brown leather camera cases in one of the many boxes marked "misc cameras". I opened the leather case and a small folding camera was inside. I figured out how to open the front of the camera and the front standard with the lens sprung out as expected. The bellows looked to be in good condition. I tried the shutter - it still worked but only at one speed, no matter where I set the shutter speed dial.
The camera is a Balda (Baldina) Jubilette. I had heard of Balda before. I decided to remove the camera from it's case and when I turned it around I noticed the frayed edge of what looked like brown paper tucked inside the back of the case, between the camera and case. I removed the camera and pulled the paper out - it was a small brown envelope, and printed on the envelope was a name and address in New York. Inside the envelope was a receipt from the purchase of the camera from Willoughby's Camera on 32nd St in NY City.
The name on the outside of the envelope and the name of the purchaser of the camera were the same. I googled the name of the man who purchased the camera but got nothing usable. I then got on ancestry.com and pretty quickly found the person I was looking for.
Joseph was was born in 1887. He lived in Long Island, NY. He had a son, Allan, who was born in 1917. The camera was made from 1938 to the mid 1940's. It is a folding 35mm format camera.
The date on the receipt was confusing but it looked like the date written in by the sales person - 7 1 8 9 is probably 7/18/39.
Either Joseph purchased the camera for himself and son Allan inherited it at some point, or Joseph purchased it for his son.
Etched on the top of the leather case is the letter "a" and the last name, and etched on the camera back - "A. S." and the last name. According to ancestry.com both Joseph and Allan had the same middle name beginning with "S".
Allan would have been 21 years old when his father purchased the camera in July of 1938, and Allan turned 22 the next month, so perhaps it was a birthday gift to him...?
The ancestry page I was on was owned by a woman with the same last name. Ancestry has a "contact this member" tab. I sent her a note.
Later that evening I had an email from the great grandson of the man who purchased the camera back in 1939. He said he had a few cameras that belonged to his grandfather Allan and would be thrilled to have this one. He now lives in NC, about 2 hours from me. He should be getting his Balda Jubilette in the mail today.
I am guessing his camera had been sitting on a shelf amongst my friends collection for perhaps 15-20 years, or more. I am guessing he would be thrilled that it has found it's way back home.
By the way, Willoughby's Camera Store has been in business since 1898.
The camera is a Balda (Baldina) Jubilette. I had heard of Balda before. I decided to remove the camera from it's case and when I turned it around I noticed the frayed edge of what looked like brown paper tucked inside the back of the case, between the camera and case. I removed the camera and pulled the paper out - it was a small brown envelope, and printed on the envelope was a name and address in New York. Inside the envelope was a receipt from the purchase of the camera from Willoughby's Camera on 32nd St in NY City.
The name on the outside of the envelope and the name of the purchaser of the camera were the same. I googled the name of the man who purchased the camera but got nothing usable. I then got on ancestry.com and pretty quickly found the person I was looking for.
Joseph was was born in 1887. He lived in Long Island, NY. He had a son, Allan, who was born in 1917. The camera was made from 1938 to the mid 1940's. It is a folding 35mm format camera.
The date on the receipt was confusing but it looked like the date written in by the sales person - 7 1 8 9 is probably 7/18/39.
Either Joseph purchased the camera for himself and son Allan inherited it at some point, or Joseph purchased it for his son.
Etched on the top of the leather case is the letter "a" and the last name, and etched on the camera back - "A. S." and the last name. According to ancestry.com both Joseph and Allan had the same middle name beginning with "S".
Allan would have been 21 years old when his father purchased the camera in July of 1938, and Allan turned 22 the next month, so perhaps it was a birthday gift to him...?
The ancestry page I was on was owned by a woman with the same last name. Ancestry has a "contact this member" tab. I sent her a note.
Later that evening I had an email from the great grandson of the man who purchased the camera back in 1939. He said he had a few cameras that belonged to his grandfather Allan and would be thrilled to have this one. He now lives in NC, about 2 hours from me. He should be getting his Balda Jubilette in the mail today.
I am guessing his camera had been sitting on a shelf amongst my friends collection for perhaps 15-20 years, or more. I am guessing he would be thrilled that it has found it's way back home.
By the way, Willoughby's Camera Store has been in business since 1898.
