Coronet history

[P3D <pzuijlekom@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Dear Alex (and all others that might be interested),

You asked (in digest 1775) for information about the
history of Coronet. Digging through my documentation
I have found the following which might be a contribution.

Coronet Camera Corporation was founded ca. 1926 by
F.W. Pettifer. They manufactured a large number of
cheap and simple box and folding cameras until ca. 1967.
Several names were used :

        Coronet Camera Co. (1926-1946)
        Coronet Ltd. (1946-1967)
        Standard Camera Ltd. (1931-1955)

I have found Coronet Limited and Coronet & Co as well.
A 1936 advertisement (for a Midget and a Cine model B)
lists their address as :

        Coronet (Limited)
        310 Summer Lane
        Birmingham 19
        United Kingdom

while an advertisement from 1956 for a Coronet 3D has
expanded this to 308-310 Summer Lane.

The cameras were often distributed via premium schemes or
mail order catalogues.
Most of its pre-war box cameras and post-1945 plastic
molded cameras come with different nameplates and
lens panels.

The Illustrated History of the Camera by Michael Auer
lists the Coronet Midget as a cheap novelty 'given away
with a packet of Cornflakes'.

The (Dutch version of the) History of Photography states that
Coronet made the first 'half frame' camera designed for
rollfilm (1934)

After WWII the company linked up with Tiranty of Paris
to produce cameras and to avoid French import restrictions.
These usually have a 'Made in France' somewhere as well
as French instructions and controls.
Rapide, Le Polo, Weekend & Fildia.

The firm also produced various Coronet accessories,
flash units, filters, closup lenses and viewers.
They also had their own Coronet film in 120 and 127 sizes.

There were close links between Coronet, Standard Camera
and Conway. Molds and body parts were interchanged.

Over 50 different Coronet types exist.

I have found the following ones :

Coronet 3D Stereo, 4,5x5, 4 pairs, 127 film
Coronet 4-4
Coronet 66, 120 film, eye level type, bakelite, metal back
Coronet Ajax, 6x9 box, build in close-up lens, black
Coronet Ajax, 6x9 box, build in close-up lens, blue
Coronet Ambassador, 6x9 box, metal & bakelite
Coronet Cadet, 120 film, eyelevel type
Coronet Cameo, 13x18mm, bakelite subminiature
Coronet Camera, Glass plates, red/black paper covering
Coronet Captain, 120 film, bakelite & metal, faceplate
        in silver/green/red, filter & close-up lens
Coronet Clipper, 120 film, folding type
Coronet Cine Camera model B
Coronet Commander, Diana type
Coronet Consul, 6x9 on 120 film, bakelite & metal, faceplate
        red & green
Coronet Conway Popular, 6x9, box type
Coronet Conway Super Flash, 120 film, bakelite & metal
Coronet Cub, 828 film, telescoping front, plastic, single speed
Coronet Cub Flash, similar to Cub but with flash sync
Coronet Dynamic 12, strange shaped black bakelite TLR, 127 film
Coronet Eclair Box, 6x9, cardboard (Tiranti)
Coronet Eclair Lux, 6x9, metal (Tiranti)
Coronet F20, 6x6, 120 or 620 film
Coronet F20 Coro-Flash, 6x6, 120/620 film, TLR style
Coronet Fildia, 6x9, cardboard, metal frameplate (Tiranti)
Coronet Flashmaster, 120 film, eyelevel type, bakelite (3 types)
Coronet Folding Rollfilm Camera (several types)
Coronet Midget, 16mm (black,brown,red,green,blue)
Coronet Plate Box, dry plates
Coronet Polo, 6x9, box leatherette/metal
Coronet Popular 12
Coronet Rapier, 4x4/6x6 eye level, bakelite, made in France
Coronet Rex, 6x9, cardboard, metal faceplate (Tiranti)
Coronet Rex Flash, basic box style, bakelite & metal, flash synced
Coronet Rex Flash, eye level style, bakelite & metal, flash synced
Coronet Robin Hood 3D Stereo
Coronet Super Flash
Coronet Twelve-20, pseudo TLR, 120/620 film, color filter
Coronet Victor, 127 film, eye level, black bakelite
Coronet Viscount, 828 film, eye level type
Coronet Vogue, special Vogue-35 film, folding type

Although I'm in no way a Coronet expert, I can probably give
you more details about a specific model / type.

References :

History of Photography, C & D White
Illustrated History of the Camera, Michael Auer
Photographic Advertising in England, James E. Cornwall
Historische Cameras 1845-1970, James E. Cornwall
Von Daguerre bis Heute II & III, Abring
Guide Auer
McKeown's 1995/96

A happy New Year to you all !

Peter van Zuijlekom
GouDDDa
The Netherlands



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