Advertising also provides interesting insights to a camera
manufacturer's desired position in the market. These two
ads from 1898 and 1901 make bold statements in order to
catch the public's attention:
It's Better Than Yours!?
This 1898 ad notes that "The Magazine works with the speed and
accuracy of a repeating rifle." Since my Bullard camera came with
most of the original plates and sheaths, I thought to give the
changing magazine a try. Considering the test results, it is not hard to
imagine why this novel design met with limited success and was
always missing the rear leather strap. Although I could get the
magazine to work, it jammed quite frequently, leading me to wonder
about the quality of those 19th century repeating rifles.
Note: The rear strap is still attached to the magazine after the test.
Bullard Folding Magazine Camera, Series B, c.1898
Company and Camera Advertisements
Copyright ©2000 by Rob Niederman - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
"It's better than yours"
"is entirely too fine for the money"
"command the admiration of all who see them"
However, there is wonderful irony in the last line of the
1901 ad:
"Our Enlarged And Superb Line
For 1901 Will Be Incomparable."
Shortly afterward, largely due to the decline in the
popularity of dry plate cameras, The Bullard Camera
Company was absorbed into the Seneca Camera Company
in late 1901 or early 1902.
1901 reference
1898 reference