Lot Essay
The Lucky Strike was developed for the U.S. Signal Corps c.1949-1950. The selenium light meter was built by the Quavas Corporation.
This camera is one of only two known to have been made, the other example is in the Signal Corps Museum, Ft. Monmouth, U.S.A. The initial contract for a concealable camera to fulfill military requirements for a 16mm. precision still camera for application in situations where the use of such cameras was desirable was given to the DeMornay-Budd Co. which developed a model in 1946-1949. This did not meet the specification and another contract was given to the Mast Development Co. Inc. who developed two models during 1949-1950. Neither was ever adopted by the U.S. army. Hindle when writing his article in 1974 was only able to account for one of each model. White, interviewing Edward Kaprelian, the original engineer who headed the project, was told by Kaprelian that two were made.
The camera fitted into the actual outer wrapper from a Lucky Strike cigarette packet. It was made to a very high standard with a five-element f/2.7 17.5mm. Sonnar-type lens. A focal plane shutter was mounted in front of the lens and provided shutter speeds from B, 5, ½50, 00. Eighteen exposures on 16mm. film could be made.
The report sold with this lot is dated Apr 15 1950 and signed by the project engineer and Gifford M. mast, President of the Mast Corporation. The 79 page report is marked as Restricted. It details the design and development of the camera, includes a set of working drawings for the camera and its method of operation.
This camera is one of only two known to have been made, the other example is in the Signal Corps Museum, Ft. Monmouth, U.S.A. The initial contract for a concealable camera to fulfill military requirements for a 16mm. precision still camera for application in situations where the use of such cameras was desirable was given to the DeMornay-Budd Co. which developed a model in 1946-1949. This did not meet the specification and another contract was given to the Mast Development Co. Inc. who developed two models during 1949-1950. Neither was ever adopted by the U.S. army. Hindle when writing his article in 1974 was only able to account for one of each model. White, interviewing Edward Kaprelian, the original engineer who headed the project, was told by Kaprelian that two were made.
The camera fitted into the actual outer wrapper from a Lucky Strike cigarette packet. It was made to a very high standard with a five-element f/2.7 17.5mm. Sonnar-type lens. A focal plane shutter was mounted in front of the lens and provided shutter speeds from B, 5, ½50, 00. Eighteen exposures on 16mm. film could be made.
The report sold with this lot is dated Apr 15 1950 and signed by the project engineer and Gifford M. mast, President of the Mast Corporation. The 79 page report is marked as Restricted. It details the design and development of the camera, includes a set of working drawings for the camera and its method of operation.