Lot 308: A Vintage 35mm Viewfinder Camera in a Gratispool Stitched Leather Case
A mid-20th century 35mm viewfinder camera featuring a chrome-plated metal top and base plates with a black textured leatherette body covering. The top plate is fitted with an accessory shoe, a film rewind knob, and a film advance control. The camera is housed within a brown stitched leather ever-ready style carrying case with a matching leather neck strap secured by a metal buckle.
The interior of the case flap bears a rectangular cream paper adhesive label titled GRATISPOOL EXPOSURE GUIDE printed in black. The label contains a grid of exposure settings relating weather conditions such as Brilliant Clear Sun, Hazy Sun, Cloudy Bright, and Cloudy Dull to various subject types including Sea & Distance Brilliant, Bright Subjects, Average Subjects, and Shaded Subjects. A line at the bottom of the grid reads All above stops for 1/100th second. Smaller text to the right side is partially obscured but includes the phrase op smaller if camera speed 1/50th. On the exterior front of the leather case is a small white rectangular adhesive label featuring a printed black number 7.
Condition report:
The camera’s metal surfaces show light surface scratching and minor signs of oxidation consistent with age (photo 1). The leatherette covering appears to be well-adhered and intact. The leather case shows significant signs of use, including heavy scuffing to the edges and corners, darkening of the leather, and surface cracking (photo 1). The neck strap is present but appears worn and brittle (photo 1). The internal exposure guide label is yellowed with some bubbling to the paper surface, though the text remains entirely legible (photo 2). The mechanical function of the shutter and the optical clarity of the lens cannot be verified as the front of the camera is obscured by the case.
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