I recently acquired five older cameras, three 35mm and two that fit in a category I wasn’t even aware of.  After a long online search, I found one of the manuals that someone would happily sell to me.  I wasn’t really looking to use the camera, just couldn’t figure out how to open the darn thing.  Googled one more time and ta-da! the complete manual in pdf format, freely downloadable, print one or all pages if I desired (and really simple to open once you know how).

Collectors, dealers, photographers, and people who tend to lose owner manuals will find Michael Butkus Jr.’s website invaluable.  He’s put a huge inventory of over 3500 camera manuals online – read, download, print – it’s all free.  OrphanCameras.com is about older cameras, no digitals here.

Easy to navigate.  Pick a manufacturer and you get a detailed list of their cameras.  Pick a camera and you get a photo (looks like yours?), then click for the pdf.  Find the info you need, or save to your computer, or print.  Can’t find your manufacturer listed?  There’s another section for the off-the-wall cameras that are non-brand names.

Got a flash you don’t know where it goes?  Need a flash for your camera?  Check out Electronic Flash/Light Meter and you’ll find your manual.

Old Photo Catalogs is awesome. From 1888 on – Kodak, Montgomery Ward, Canon, Sears and more – you can view the advertisements for newest and most advanced for the moment.  Remember your first camera?  You’ll probably find it here.

General info on cameras, photography, film, developing and pretty much anything that has to do with taking a picture can be found in Booklets/Non-instruction.  This database is huge and I can’t begin to tell you what it encompasses.

Orphancamera.com [http://www.butkus.org/chinon/] is the ultimate website for vintage and antique cameras.  I found all five manuals that I needed, including ones manufactured before I was born, and immediately made a donation.  If you find this site useful I encourage you to do the same.

Check it out and you won’t find this information available anywhere else; and for free.  What more could you ask for?

Tell ‘em I sent ‘ya
Victoria

I’m doing an about face with this month’s featured website.  No photos and limited information.  Common Button Back Marks [http://pweb.netcom.com/~jimyce/bm.html] lists manufacturers of buttons and likely dates when they were made.  If you’re a button collector there are many websites you probably already frequent.   For others, this one-page site can be very useful for dating clothing, handbags, shoes, gloves, and more.

Originally designed to promote saving among children, Mechanical Banks were produced from about 1869 until the start of World War II.  To make these banks appealing to kids, they were cleverly designed, often depicting historical, legendary or everyday events.  Each bank performed a stunt or an action.  The banks quickly caught on with children and adults alike and soon became a sought-after collector’s item.

The Mechanical Bank Collectors of America [http://www.mechanicalbanks.org/index.html] was formed in 1958 to meet the needs of collectors, by adding to the existing knowledge base and increasing availability of mechanical banks.  Members of MBCA have access to continually updated material including a thrice-a-year journal, price guide, annual convention, special reports, videos, references, and chat, among others.

But fear not, there’s a lot of great stuff for the non-member.  And after viewing these wonderful inventions, it would be very easy to get hooked!  From the simple to the unbelievably intricate, unadorned metal to eye-popping colors – MBCA’s slide show will have you entranced.  You can choose from several speeds or, as I chose to do, view one at a time.

Scrapbook is a collection covering, well, just about everything – who, what, when, where, and why.  If you’re looking for something specific a ‘search’ will check over 3000 pages in the public section.  Having been around for over 50 years, MBCA has managed to amass an impressive amount of documentation.  Since I wasn’t looking for anything in particular I spent a couple hours browsing.  (P.S. to history buffs – you’ll love this.) 

I discovered excellent images of advertisements and catalogs from as early as 1876.  Patent images and papers that will make your heart pitter-patter because there’s a good chance you’ll find your bank even if you don’t have a patent number or manufacturer or date or any information other than a mechanical bank sitting in front of you.  First time I’ve ever come across patent information listed this way and I can only wish it was this easy for other collectibles.

A section devoted to J. & E. Stevens Co., a premier manufacturer of mechanical banks includes photos, ledgers, account books, correspondence, designers, etc.  Not just the information, but almost always the original documents.  Note: throughout the website whenever a handwritten document was scanned there is an accompanying typed transcript since some handwriting can be difficult to interpret.

For those interested in the creation of mechanical banks (for the most part, anything metal), ‘The Foundry’ has it all.  How a design on paper becomes a three-dimensional object with moving parts.  A technical expose that should interest metal workers of all disciplines.

How much is your mechanical bank worth?  With MBCA’s auction results from three major auction houses, you can find out.  And once again, easy to look up since it’s listed by bank description.

There’s more to find at Mechanical Bank Collectors of America.  It’s an awesome website with a whole lot of free information.  Wouldn’t this be a great collection to start for your kids or grandkids?

tell ‘em i sent ya,
victoria

Scott Simmons recently visited Laura’s Emporium, and among the items he took away was this Byron bust mentioned in his weekly column.  “Look What We Found” and “Scott’s Tips” appears every Saturday in the Accent section of the Palm Beach Post.

Scott, who lives in Lake Worth, is an antiques dealer, writer and editor.  Check out his blog at scottsimmonsantiques.com which features more of his ‘finds’.

My name is Gary and this is my “man shop” (Booth #33).  I started collecting and selling man stuff when my wife Darlyn and I came to Satellite Beach, Florida in 1979.

At that time, Darlyn started an Antique Doll & Baby Carriage shop in Frontenac Flea Market.  As I  sat around waiting for her to close, I thought to my self, “Why just sit?  SELL!”  I then started to sell anything and everything I could to make a ‘buck.’  You name it, I sold it.

We moved from Satellite Beach to Stuart in the mid 80’s and opened two shops in nearby antiqueing venues; one in White City and the other in Jensen Beach.  Recently, Darlyn and I located our shops to Laura’s Emporium.

My wife’s booth (#14) is located near the main entrance to the Emporium, which is surrounded by a charming baby stroller and two elegant gold leaf chairs.  Delightful dolls, small antique treasures and ladies luxury ‘la-di-das’ complete the Victorian space.

My “man shop” is located in one of the upstairs loft rooms.  It includes fishing rods and reels, computers, VCRs, DVDs, record players, boating accessories, golf equipment, and more.  For the collector, a variety of Star Wars figures and spaceships can be found as well.

Come to Laura’s Emporium and enjoy the finest in antiques, vintage and recycled items.  Bring back memories and make some new ones!

Jim Sneed’s website — All About Old Toys (http://www.oldwoodtoys.com/) — is constantly growing and evolving.  Originally Judy’s Old Wood Toys, the name change came about to reflect the inclusion of metal toys.  400 pages of articles, more than 4200 photos, over 50 toy company histories — most contributed by researchers, collectors and family members of old toy companies.  You’d think that would be enough, but a planned merger with Richard Mueller of Antique Toy Collections (http://www.antiquetoycollections.info) later this year will more than double the scope of information.

New information is added daily to what is already the largest collection of Schoenhut circus photographs on the Web and the best Humpty Dumpty circus identification guide.  Collectors have contributed photos of some amazing collections that are a feast for the eyes.  Several museum collections are included.

Well-written and informative articles are categorized by subject and include photos, catalogs and advertisements, original and current estimated prices, dates produced, measurements, and more.  A vast storehouse of information on the companies and their toys.  ‘Dating your wooden toys’  along with a guide for researching your toy is invaluable.

Want to sell your collection?  Need repair or restoration service?  Need professional photos taken?  Jim covers all these subjects and offers several services.  You can sell your toys through his website or set up your own toy shop.  He also buys toys and has a ‘toys wanted’ list.  Many, many links with a summary of each, saving you a lot of time.

Visit All About Old Toys (http://www.oldwoodtoys.com/), you’ll find it very user friendly and easy to navigate.  Be sure to bookmark it — always something new — you’ll want to go back again and again.

Tell ‘em I sent ya’. ~ Victoria