Official Newspaper of Eddy County since 1883
Official Newspaper of Eddy County since 1883
The box cameras pictured here are two of the eight box cameras on display in the Eddy County Museum schoolhouse building. Left: Box camera, black with silver metal plate. Clix '120' Elite. circa 1930. At right, the Brownie Target Six-20 is a new model offers the same general design into the 1950s.
When faced with choosing which artifacts to feature first in this column, it seems worthwhile to consider the camera. After all, photographic technology has changed immensely since the late 1800s.
Perhaps the most important aspect of the camera is the photograph it produces. In fact, the Eddy County Museum collection includes more than 350 historic photographic images.
Chances are, a good number of the photos within the collection were taken with a Brownie box camera.
Pictured at right, these hand-held cameras were easy to use and were the first camera affordable for common folks to purchase. One box camera on display was purchased in Eddy County in 1929 for $1.
The Brownie camera's aperture allowed for quick picture taking. No longer were photographic subjects required to remain still to take a photo. That's right, this funny little box, measuring 3x4x6" gave rise to the snapshot.
The museum is open on Sundays from 1-4 p.m. after Memorial Day through Labor Day.
E-mail us at [email protected]. Or send a letter to Archival Anecdotes c/o Rachel Brazil, The Transcript 6 8th St N., New Rockford, ND 58356.
