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Lumière Scoutbox
France Version française
Photos by Sylvain Halgand text by Sylvain Halgand. From the collection of Sylvain Halgand. Last update 2022-12-09 par Sylvain Halgand.

Manufactured or assembled in France from 1949 to 1950.
Index of rarity in France: Frequent (among non-specialized garage sales)
Inventory number: 489

See the complete technical specifications

Chronology of cameras Lumiere 

Lumière produced four series of box cameras between 1933 and 1954; they were the Scoutbox, the Lumièrebox, the Lumibox and the Luxbox. They are all rather similar, and vary only slightly in their specifications. Multiple series existed together.

Lumièrebox (or Lumière-Box)

The Lumièrebox was only made in 4 x 6,5 cm format from 1933-1936. It was not until 1937 that it was joined by a 6 x 9 cm version. The 4 x 6,5 versions still existed but became rare in catalogues. Both versions disappeared in 1939/40.

Lumièrebox 4 x 6,5 (1933-1939), metal construction, covered in coated canvas with textured decoration. The folding viewfinder is over sized and fixed on top of the body. The lens is a simple meniscus without inscription. A rotating arrow is used to select exposure (P = ‘B’), snapshot (I = instantaneous), or safety (S). The shutter does not need cocking. The model appears to remain unchanged until the end of production, although the BHV’s 1938 catalogue shows the three shutter settings reversed.

Lumièrebox 6 x 9 (1937-1939). It has a confusing resemblance to certain Scoutbox models. Its’ lens is a simple meniscus with no inscription around it. A small slider moves in front of the two values P and I.


Scoutbox, Scout-box or Scout Box

The Scoutbox is found in the catalogues from 1933 – 1952 but changes several times in form, equipment, decoration etc.

First model (1933-1935): The camera is metal, covered in a fabric with a lozenge design. The front face is a diamond shape around the lens. There are three possible apertures. The selection between Instant and P is made with a slider on the left side (as seen from the front). The tripod thread is under the front part of the body. There is no focusing; the lens is an F6,9 doublet (two cemented elements), and the film is 120.

Second model ( 1936-1939): This is a radical change of model, it is smaller. There is a single tilting reflecting viewfinder partly built into the front face. It is covered with a (bad) ridged coating. A rectangular ridged plate surrounds the lens. The shutter release has the shape of a lever but is not streamlined. Another lever in the shape of an arrow allows a choice between P, I and S. The S is a safety system or second shutter; the shutter release is not blocked but the film is not exposed. The film is 620.

Third model (1939-1940): The shape is identical to that of the Lumière 6 x 9 cm, which can cause confusion between the two models. Here are some identifiers: The Scoutbox lens is labelled Lumière Rapide, whilst the lens on the Lumièrebox has no name. In the Scoutbox there is a circular window through which P or I can be seen; in the Lumière box a pointer moves across the two values. The front plate rings and viewfinder are nickel plated in the Scoutbox, and black on the Lumièrebox (but this is not true on later versions). The film is 620.

Third model (1947-1948): The catalogues are confused and show a camera like the pre-war one, but the quality of engraving is poor and it is difficult to be sure. Photo-Plait’s 1948-1949 catalogue shows a Lumièrebox not a Scoutbox.

Fourth model (1949-1950): A flash socket appears on the front. The camera is completely black, but there is still an inscription around the lens. Photo-Hall continues to use an old engraving without the flash socket until 1952, although it is mentioned in the text. The film is 620.

Fifth model (1950-1952)
: The front is covered by an unpainted metal plate. The flash socket is still visible, but there is no inscription around the lens. It is said that the lens is meniscus; goodbye doublet! The small window showing the choice between P and I has gone, replaced by a pointer over the two letters.


Lumibox

The Lumibox (1933-1940) is a pre-war model that disappears during the war. It is a metal box covered and decorated with a coated fabric. It is very elegant. The front is covered by a varnished black plate on which is engraved a diamond with chrome (or nickel) edges. The lens is a focusing doublet. A slider under the lens marked 2m, 5m and infinity, rotates the lens when it is moved. There are three apertures simply marked 2, 1 and 3 (F11-F22) and two shutter speed settings P and I (1/50 s). On the side there is a socket for a cable release. Catalogues also offered a more expensive version with an Anastigmat lens and there is also a version with a self timer.


Luxbox (or Lux-Box)

There were three different models of the Luxbox:

The first model (1933-1937): This is a metal box in 6 x 9 cm format, on which was mounted a lens/shutter unit that is also found on some of the brand’s folding cameras. The lens is a Lumière Nacor F6,3 and the shutter which probably comes from Gitzo, provides speeds of 1/25 s -1/100 s, B and T. Focusing is by rotating the front lens; a slider under the block varies the aperture.
There is a cable release socket and it has two viewfinders like many other box cameras. It is covered with imitation leather, and Lumière presents it as the most advanced box camera of the time. It uses 120 film.

The second model (1952-1954)
: This model appeared in catalogues in 1952 and stayed there until the end of 1954. It was made of Brown crinckled painted metal. The viewfinder is unique and is soldered on to the top of the camera. The shutter offers 1/25 s, 1/75 s and ‘B’. There are two apertures in the form of holes in a retractable plate. There is a flash socket and a cable release socket. The shutter must be cocked before use.
If the camera is much more rustic than the version of the 30s, it has the advantage of being indestructible. There is a variant with the order of the shutter speeds reversed, the aperture selector offset, and the addition of the JL logo. The film is 620.

Lumière must have thought it was too advanced, because in 1954 a new simplified version was launched. It looks great in all black, but the shutter no longer identifies the speeds, just I and P. The flash synchronization is gone, and so too is the plate with the name Lumière on the sloping part of the façade.
This model was only manufactured briefly; its’ name varies across the catalogues; Lux-Box 54, Box 54, or even Box 6 x 9.

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Lumiere Scoutbox Survolez l'image





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