Ad for Fed-Flash camera in summer of 1948
Toronto. Post war, the camera industry exploded with pent-up demand. Federal in Brooklyn was mainly known in photographic circles for their enlargers (I had one). Their enlargers were cheaply made and cheaply sold.
Around 1948, the company decided to do cameras too. This model took advantage of the enthusiasm for flash. Made of Bakelite, it was just a box camera (uses 127 film) tarted up as a 35mm with flash capability. Enthusiasts could buy a cheap camera and pretend it was a real minicam!
The company has since disappear into the mists of time. Their camera venture lasted a bit less than a decade, but the company lasted longer.
We owe a big thank you to my good friend and fellow PHSC member, George Dunbar, for sharing with us this August, 1948 advertisement (page 41) from Popular Photography.
Note: The title of this post is from a song sung by Margo Timmins of the Cowboy Junkies called, “Cause Cheap Is How I Feel” from their 1990 album Caution Horses. I’ve been a fan of the Junkies since I heard them live with songs from their album, “The Trinity Session” on radio. The Junkies sang in the old Trinity Church tucked in beside the Bell Building at 483 Bay just above Queen Street here in the Big Smoke. Michael and Margo are from Montreal. Margo never sang professionally before she joined her brother’s group.
