Vintage box cameras.

The classic box camera. The box camera's raison d'être was to simplify photography for everyone. Usually a simple box with a waist level finder and a basic shutter. To qualify for this collection, the viewing method cannot be direct, as that would make it a viewfinder camera, so whilst there are boxy looking cameras, if they have a frame sight or view sight of any type, they won't be included here. Box cameras were very popular from their inception and millions were produced by many manufacturers, many Kodak "Brownies" amongst them. Most used roll film, but some used glass plates. A handful even had variable shutter speeds, aperture and focus control but the vast majority were simple affairs, some even being made from cardboard. The images produced by these box cameras were decidedly variable and as expectations rose and quality equipment became cheaper the box camera died out in the 1960s. That's not to say they didn't make the occasional splash, the famous and controversial Cottingley Fairies image, was taken with a Butcher's box camera.

Those in the LICM collection are listed here in date order, starting with the oldest.