Lure pocket camera
I have a Lure pocket camera in mint condition -- still sealed in the original styrofoam mailer box.
The Lure came out in 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.)
But this camera is somewhat different. 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, simple 110 camera. Kodak would, in fact,
eventually produce a 110 "disposable" camera, but the Lure was well ahead
of its time. Perhaps it was lack of advertisement. But the Lure
failed to catch on. But just a few years later, the "disposable" camera
would be tall he 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) to any one of several processing labs in the same camera
case. You soon received 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.
Lure's are easy enough to find, but they are usually opened with some or all of the exposures taken. Not this one! $7 -- shipping included.
email Margaret at: rosielily@aol.com
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