Obsolescence Project

Day 39 – Eumig C5 8mm Camera

Case

Eumig C5 8mm movie camera, Made in Austria. c. 1961

The case it comes in is absolutely gorgeous.

camera case detail

I’m reaching outside of things I “exclusively” own now, to my partner’s clutter treasures. He bought it at a garage sale. He never used it, although he does know how to use it, because he went to film school. It has sat un-worshipped for several years tucked away in the corner of the bedroom under  a window. Now it’s going to live in the studio in the bookcase with the glass window. The red is simply a thing of beauty.

There are none of these Eumig’s currently for sale on eBay, but a few here and there on other sites going for about $25 – $137.  I found an ad from Life magazine, which promotes it as having sound.

Eumig Ad

Here’s the camera itself:

Eumig Camera

Status: Display. There is room for things that are well made and beautifully packaged.

Here is the Revere 16 MAG movie camera from Day 5, for home movie buffs.

Posted on by Deanne in Photography

Day 38 – Address Book

Address Book

Address Book

Address Book. Gift c. 1998

I had to put the pen there to hold it open, as it’s unused state meant the spine was still very stiff.

There is one address poetically written in there, from the lovely person who gave it to me. I was keeping it because it’s so pretty and there is an inscription to me in the front. So now, I’ve taken a photo of the inscription and this object is ready to go.

I’ve only had a smartphone (iPh0ne) for 3 years, so in fact, I could have used this address book – but I kept them mainly in a smaller, less fancy, portable book, and the phone numbers were plugged into our home phone. This one has an entry for Fax – which is rather quaint. Recently I read something to do with solar flares, and someone was saying that they could wreak havoc on digital devices, so the advice was to print out all your contact info. I thought about that for a minute, and then thought, well if I can’t use it, what does it matter if I have the numbers printed out?

Addresses

Status: Scratch out inscription, and but in donation bin. Someone may yet use it.

Posted on by Deanne in Objects

Day 37 – Slide Rule

Slide Rule

AcuMath Slide Rule 400B, Made in the USA c. 1965

There is a Slide Rule Museum website. Will wonders never cease?

I’m not sure how this beauty entered my life. Not that I know how to use it. Perhaps it was my dad’s.

I learned that the Slide Rule is a mechanical analog computer. This one is ‘Simplex Trig.‘ which I am assuming means it can do trigonometry calculations, which I did learn, but used a Texas Instrument Scientific Calculator (which I might still have, surprise surprise). “The era of the slide rule ended with the launch of pocket-sized scientific calculators, of which the 1972 Hewlett-Packard HP-35 was the first.” [Wikipedia]

Slider Rule
Status: Learn How to Use?

Posted on by Deanne in Objects

Day 36 – Dominion Ale Stubby

Stubby Beer Bottle

Bennett Dominion Ale Beer Bottle  / “Stubby”. Made in Canada. 341 ml. c. 1984

My mom found this on a beach in Nfld, which is surprising considering the label is fully intact. There is a flattened coin with a nail in the top. She told me what it’s for (something perhaps to do with fisherman?) but I’ve forgotten. I’ve kept it because it’s a gift and so quaint, but mainly because of the nail in the top.

The label says “Carling O’Keefe Breweries, St-John’s, Nfld – Union Made”. The Bennett Brewing Company was founded in St-John’s in 1827.  Newfoundland & Labrador did not become part of Canada until 1947. The brewery was purchased by Carling O’Keefe in 1962 and closed due to a merger between Carling O’Keefe and Molson in 1989.  Dominion Ale is still produced by Molson, but not, alas in a stubby.

Stubby

Status: Keep (for the nail in the top).

Posted on by Deanne in Objects

Day 35 – Kodak pocket Instamatic 10

kodak insatmatic camera

Another Kodak camera

Kodak pocket Instamatic 10 camera c. 1975. Original price $23.

Found out that unlike the Kodak Disc 8000, which was the deluxe end of the range for its model, this pocket Instamatic 10 was the cheapest.
They both cost me about the same amount. Maybe this one was $3.
It used 110 cartridge film and says “Use only magiccubes” where the flash goes.

I think what I like is the shiny sticker of the Canadian Flag. I wonder how many countries they made flag stickers for?  It speaks to me of being a tourist or perhaps a spy. Pulling out your pocket camera and surreptitiously taking a shot. No messing around with settings. Just point and shoot.

The 110 film, is of course, discontinued.

Yet another kodak camera

Status: Replace with the full kit? I am missing the box, the flash and the vintage advertising.

Posted on by Deanne in Photography