scg3

I recently saw "Borderline," a blah 1950 movie thriller with Fred McMurray and Claire Trevor. What was interesting was undercover-cop Claire sneaking photos with a camera that folded up inconspicuously into a power compact -- remember them? Haven't seen one in decades.

I'm something of a classic camera buff and I thought I'd try to find out more about such a camera but neither eBay nor Google were of any help although they all turned up dozens of powder compacts that LOOKED like cameras -- apparently that was a popular cosmetic style of yesteryear.

Does anyone know any more about this strange device? It was probably a contemporary of the Camera-Lighter Echo 8, the 8mm still camera built into a cigarette lighter used by Eddie Albert in "Roman Holiday."

James R. Kyle Loc: Saint Louis, Missouri (A Suburb of Ferguson)

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Was it something like this??

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(Download)

Bill_de Loc: US

Did you Google 'spy camera'?

https://gizmodo.com/13-of-historys-most-ingenious-spy-cameras-1685088759


http://www.pimall.com/nais/pivintage/smcameras.html

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billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

this one is cooler by far.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/MINOX-B-SPY-CAMERA-Complan-f15-mm-Orginal-case-and-chain-Vintage-free-shipping/232690318516?_trkparms=aid%3D555017%26algo%3DPL.CASSINI%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D53365%26meid%3Dcc686aca30874c8aaa999d8cb8b78b5f%26pid%3D100505%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D1%26%26itm%3D232690318516&_trksid=p2045573.c100505.m3226

scg3

Thanks for the reply. The Echo 8 looks right but not the "compact" camera. The one in the movie folded so it wasn't obvious it was a camera. As to whether it was actually a working camera rather than just a prop, I've no way of knowing. It was the most interesting thing in the film -- definitely a "B Feature." Claire Trevor was much better in "Key Largo" with Edward G. Robinson, Lionel Barrymore and Humphrey Bogart.

hassighedgehog Loc: Corona, CA

Eastman Kodak published a book about various Curious Cameras. Title is something like 101 Curious Cameras. Could not check because it is in the trunk of the car and the lid is stuck right now. It has many spy cameras in various shapes. Most are exhibits in the Kodak museum. There are also lots of historical ones. One is actually wind powered for taking pictures from airplanes. There is one for taking pictures at a 45 degree angle from what looks like the lens but is not. The ad for that one shows the photographer at the beach taking a shot of a girl when he looks like he is shooting the ocean.

scg3

Found it! $1.32 used on Amazon. It's actually 183 "curious" cameras. Looks like a lot of fun even if I don't find Claire Trevor's particular one. THANKS!

hassighedgehog Loc: Corona, CA

You're welcome.