Purma Speed

1936

Purma Cameras Ltd

London

England

Lens:

2" Purma Special Achromat, fixed aperture.

Shutter:

Metal guillotine shutter near the focal plane comprising two metal plates that slide together across the film gate. Six speeds 1/25 - 1/200, T. Spring powered, separate capping blade.

Construction:

Metal body, chromium plated and black crackle finish paint.

Format:

1" x 1" exposures on 127 roll-film.

Focusing:

Fixed.

Attributes:

Frame view-finder. Shutter tensioned by separate knob from film advance. When the finder is lowered the release knob is locked.

Serial Number:

6/36/1617 .

With:

Lens cap.

This is the first of three cameras brought out under the Purma name, each has distinctive styling although of different construction and made of different materials. The shutter design is similar between models and is odd in that the speeds vary depending on which way the camera is held (horizontal, upright with the finder at the top and upright with the finder at the bottom), a knob on the top of the camera switches between high and low settings.

The Purma Speed was only made for around a year, the price was 35/-.

References & Notes:

BP 26158/1933 (application number for 430648). BP 7981/1935 (application number for 445907). BP 430648/1933. BP 445907/1934.

Illustrations:

A model in a box is shown in Christie's Cat. 11/12/2002, 13.

Company Details:

Purma Cameras

Early Photography