Pho-tak: Eagle Eye

Notes related to specific cameras
bill339
Posts: 656
Joined: Thu Dec 11, 2014 8:18 pm
Location: Southern New Jersey

Pho-tak: Eagle Eye

Postby bill339 » Tue May 21, 2019 1:56 pm

The Eagle Eye 120 box camera was manufactured by the Pho-tak Corporation in circa 1950 to 1954. The Eagle Eye 120 was constructed of all metal with a decorative faceplate. It features an optical viewfinder, safety lock on the back and a carrying handle. The camera took eight, 2 1/4 x 3 1/4 inch (6x9cm) exposures on standard no. 120, color or black and white roll films. It is fitted with a 110 mm Zellar fixed focus meniscus lens and a Pho-tak time and 1/50 of a second instantaneous shutter. The camera was originally priced at $5.95. This is the same camera as the Pho-tak Trailblazer but the Trailblazer is minus the riveted escutcheon lens surround. The upgrade was the Spectator Flash 120, Macy Flash 120, and the Scout Flash 120 with synchronized flash connectors on the top (retailed for $7.95). Pho-tak also sold a Cub Photographer Kit for $10.95 that included the Spectator Flash 120 camera, a flash unit, 4 flashbulbs, two penlight batteries (AA) for the flash unit, Press Photographer’s card, a roll of Ansco 120 B&W film, and a book “Getting Started in Photography”. An adult version called “Official Photographer’s Kit”, sold for $13.95 with more flashbulbs and a leather camera case. The Pho-tak Corporation was based in Chicago, Illinois and was active from approximately 1948 to 1960. They shared the same address with United States Camera Corporation that produced several model variations similar to (same as) Pho-tak models with different names and sometimes the same name as in the Trailblazer 120. In the end, a marketing stratagem but USC continued with some new camera intros until about 1968 then vanished about 1970.

Return to “Camera comments”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 54 guests