Need some suggestions

[totalmotard]

I'm in the process of scanning the old family Kodachromes. They were all photographed with an old rangefinder that my parents had. I wanted to find out what it was but my parents didn't remember. The best I got from them was it might have been a Minolta or an Olympus. It was probably purchased in 1957, had a flash and quit working sometime in the 70's. Camera store said it wasn't worth repairing so they pitched it. It would have been something that was readily available in St. Louis and been affordable for a letter carrier.

Any ideas as to possibilities?

 

[MattKing]

Can you tell us about the flash?

Was it electronic, or bulb?

If bulb, was it built in or detachable?

How big was the reflector? How big were the bulbs?

 

[totalmotard]

It was electronic and detachable.

 

[elekm]

Is your question about the camera or the flash?

 

[fotch]

Yes, lots of possibilities.

 

[wblynch]

Maybe one of the slides captured your Dad in a mirror??

 

[totalmotard]

Great idea! I looked through some old home movies and captured this screen shot:

http://www.stevelongphoto.com/Family/Old-Slides/dadandcamera/928184726_8R9Uu-L.png

I guess I was wrong about the electronic flash, it's definitely a bulb.

 

[MattKing]

I asked about the flash, because if it used bulbs, it might be more likely that it would have a distinctive appearance, and therefore provide some additional clues .

Did the camera look like any of the ones pictured in this Retina link:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kodak_Retina

Or how about the cameras shown in this Olympus link:
http://www.olympus-global.com/en/corc/history/camera/35mm.cfm

 

[totalmotard]

Well after looking at lots of pictures on the intertubes, I think the best match is a Kodak Retina IIIs, Minolta Super A or Olympus 35-S, with the Kodak holding top spot since my dad said Kodak first, then changed his mind. I'm thinking a Minolta and an Olympus came later.

 

[elekm]

When I first saw that photo, I was thinking Kodak Signet 80. But it could be a Retina IIIS.

 

[totalmotard]

Mystery Solved! I found one at an antique mall. It is a Kodak Bantam RF. As soon as I saw it I knew it was the right one. Picked it up in near mint condition for $40. Dad also went looking and found a picture of an Olympus 35 SP that replaced the Bantam. Now I got to find one of those.

 

[MattKing]

Mystery Solved! I found one at an antique mall. It is a Kodak Bantam RF. As soon as I saw it I knew it was the right one. Picked it up in near mint condition for $40. Dad also went looking and found a picture of an Olympus 35 SP that replaced the Bantam. Now I got to find one of those.

If it is a Bantam RF, I don't think the slides are 35mm.

They are 828 film. Here is a link:

Dead Link Removed

I'm kicking myself now, because all the early sots of our family were shot by my father using a Bantam RF - see one pictured here:

http://www.camerapedia.org/wiki/Kodak_Bantam_RF

They were great little cameras!

 

[totalmotard]

I am really amazed at the quality of the images my dad captured with such a simple camera:

Thanks for the link to the 828.

 

[fotch]

Don't be. Its not the price of equipment that determines the use, its the skill of the user. True with paint brushes or wood tools as well.

 

[Someonenameddavid]

You know, 828 film is just 126 film without the plastic cassette.. I've occasionally thought of using respooled 126 on a bantam.....

David