Make a vintage camera part of your decor

Old cameras have an iconic look – great for vintage styling, as Cassie Fairy explains

My first box camera was a gift from my brother: an original Imperial Six-20 snapshot camera that dated back to the 1960s. He had painstakingly refurbished the old camera, even going so far as to deconstruct the parts and spray-paint the plastic case in a bright sky-blue. I’m not sure how practical it is to use as a camera, as rolling a film onto the spools is a task I’ve never attempted, but as a decor piece it’s certainly a feature of my home office.

My photographer husband also has a collection of retro cameras from his time teaching the subject, and we now have a display cabinet full of classic pieces. Although we rarely use film photography – digital is just so convenient – whenever there’s a special occasion to document, it’s a delight to snap away with an analogue camera.

The excitement is still there when the film is processed and I discover whether or not the photograph I took of a beautiful sunset is in focus! Regardless, that photo will be cherished and archived in our albums, just like any other perfectly composed image, because it captured the moment without the need to take 10 shots just to choose one. Film photography is a mindful, slow-living activity at its best.

Box cameras date back to the 19th century, as an early replacement for pinhole cameras. The development of Kodak’s roll film in the 1880s created a new snap-happy era of photography where multiple shots could be taken without reloading individual film plates. By the time box cameras became a mass-market hit at the turn of the 20th century, the purchase price was an affordable £1 or £2.

The cameras often had a fixed aperture of around f/11 and a shutter speed of 1/60 second, making them an almost foolproof snapshot camera. As such, in the mid-century era, the plastic casing of many box cameras was manufactured in bright colours to attract a younger audience. In fact, a Herco Imperial became the official camera of the Boy and Girl Scouts organisations in America. It was only when instamatic cameras with drop-in film canisters were introduced in the 1960s that the popularity of box cameras for amateur photography waned.

Box cameras were often made by two manufacturers: Kodak and Herco. You may find these brand logos on the case of the camera alongside a model name, such as the Imperial or the Brownie. Often the branding is clearly displayed on the front, yet some models will have a more subtle, embossed logo on the back or side.

The ‘Six-20’ reference on most box cameras refers to the 620 film they take. Kodak introduced this film format in 1931, which may help you to date a box camera. Prior to this, box cameras were manufactured to fit 120 film and, if a photographer were to upgrade to a new 620 camera, the old film could technically be rolled onto the thinner 620 spool. With both of these films still available to buy new, it’s possible to take and develop photographs with vintage box cameras today. Be aware that they will produce square photos – rather like an analogue version of Instagram!

When old cameras are no longer operational, it doesn’t mean they are destined for the recycling bin. You can revamp any vintage camera with a touch of multi-surface spray paint. Simply mask off any parts you want to keep original, such as the lens, and then add a coat of bright colour. Display the refurbed camera alongside other colourful collectables for a kitsch shelfie.

Old cameras lend a classic vintage feel to interiors and can echo the interests of the homeowner. Photographer, stylist and Reclaim’s columnist Tamsyn Morgans loves to uses her retro camera collection for home styling, as seen in the gorgeous images in this post.

WORDS: CASSIE FAIRY