Re: [KOML] HISTORY

[omegaman <omegaman@shentel.net>]

George Curtis Fant wrote:
> 
> While all of the mid-sixties camera info is interesting, I am really
> curious about the 1954? Simmons brothers camera.  I have been looking
> through bound issues of Pop. Photography from the 1950's, but still have
> not found any ads.  What year would the first camera have been
> advertised?  Does anyone have and use one of the originals?  Thanks,
> Curtis Fant
Curtis:
I used one and remember it as being a bit more compact than the K-O or
Rapids.  It had a push-pull film advance and an American made lens in a
shutter that was visable (just like you would see the shutter sticking
out on a Speed Graphic)  I believe the shutter was a Rapax.  The
photographs taken with this original Simmons Bros. were very sharp.  I
gave it to a friend around 1975 - it had a collector's value of $250-300
even then.
R. Carlisle