
the Marion Metal Miniature Camera c1885 (bottom of box)
Toronto. Many of us think miniature cameras stem from the 1920s when the Leica was announced but there were many earlier ones. In this case it is a French camera named after Monsieur Marion, and sold around 1885.
The late John Kantymir recounts how he added one of these very rare cameras to his collection, “This camera story has a real twist to it when a gentleman in England bought a trunk full of junk at a boot sale. He paid 50 pounds for the trunk and thought he was taking a risk at getting anything for it. Out of the mess he found an odd metal tube which he thought was a microscope camera. He described it as such when he offered it on eBay.
“In my searches I happened to come across the listing and somehow it just did not sit right in my mind’s eye. I just couldn’t figure it out.
“I was lying in bed wondering about it when all of a sudden it came to me. I had a eureka moment and sat up and yelled “I know what it is!” I really scared the living bejesus out of my wife, Carri who was lying beside me. I was sure it must be a Marion’s Metal Miniature camera built about 1885 when a number of miniature cameras were being introduced to the market.”
Following John’s story is added material in an illustrated article titled “Marion’s Metal Miniature” written by the late Dr Robert G Wilson, a long standing member of the PHSC.
Members continued on with the story in issue 38-4 that spring (2013). Later members could read the story in the pdf version of 38-4 on their copy of our DVD which includes all volumes 1 through 40 of Photographic Canadiana. You don’t have the hard copy or the DVD? You are not a member? Well, see the MEMBERSHIP menu item above, or the right hand sidebar item on membership using PayPal. Sign-up and the DVD will be sent via Canada Post!