Lure

(1973) On the surface, this is just another attempt to sell George Eastman's original idea -- a "disposable" camera (i.e, you take the pictures and return the camera to the manufacturer for film processing). This model is somewhat different though. First, it is a very small camera -- perfect for a "disposable". It came along at the same time as the 110 cameras, and for this reason, I suppose, the Lure is often reported to be a 110 camera. But it is not. It used 16mm unperforated film. While it made negatives the same size as the 110 negatives -- 13x17mm -- it did not use 110 cassettes, nor 110 film. However, in all other respects the camera has the same features as a typical 110 camera. Kodak would, in fact, eventually produce a 110 "disposable" camera, but the Lure was way ahead of its time. Perhaps it was lack of advertisement. But the Lure failed to catch on. Because just a few years later, the "disposable" camera would be the rage.
The Lure camera was bought in a small styrofoam case. It came with color film (12 exposures) of an unknown type (they called it Technicolor). The film speed was ASA 80. After exposing the film, the camera was returned (through the mail in its original styrofoam case) to any one of several processing labs around the country. You soon received back 3.5x4.5 inch prints. The camera had an f11, 2 element lens with a single shutter speed (1/80). The focus was fixed, and depth-of-field reached from 4 feet to infinity -- it is f11 after all. The magic-cube holder on the top also acted as the film advance. Various models were available. The main differences were: the name on the front (it also was sold as the Blick, Love and X2) and the color of the shutter release button (for example, red and green). The camera weighed only 1.5 ounces. Measurements of 3.75 x 1.25 x 1.75 inches. With patience, these cameras can be reloaded -- go to the DARKROOM for details.