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Mecaoptic Box |
 Version française |
Manufactured or assembled in France from (Circa) 1950 to (After) 1950.
Index of rarity in France: Rare (among non-specialized garage sales)
Inventory number: 14515
See the complete technical specifications
Chronology of cameras Mecaoptic
In 1941, a classified ad in the newspaper Le Matin informs us that Mecaoptic, then located in Saint-Maur, was manufacturing license plates for cars, made of stamped metal.
By 1951, the company's address was 206 Rue La Fayette in Paris. The company's activities were described as follows: Photographic cameras and derivatives, construction, repairs, modifications, small mechanics, and blueprint studies. It's challenging to determine whether the 1941 activity was an alternative to limited camera manufacturing during the occupation or if camera manufacturing became the company's focus after World War II. However, the presence of optics is evident in the company's name.
The common thread between the two activities is metal stamping. Mecaoptic's box cameras are made of folded and stamped metal. Some forms of stamping are very characteristic of the brand, such as the front panel that incorporates a cup around the lens or, conversely, an extra thickness. Other parts, while not always present, are recurring enough to become characteristic features of the brand, such as the latch holding the back, the winding key, and the very small shutter button. These small peculiarities help distinguish them from Gap cameras, with which they are often confused.
These cameras typically use a 6 x 9 cm format. The production of each model appears to be limited, and there are many variations in the covering material. This covering material is generally of poor quality.
This camera possesses all the technical characteristics of the box cameras built by Mécaoptic.
What sets this model apart is the inscription "Le Gaulois" beneath the lens, which was achieved by embossing the covering material. It's highly likely that this is an advertising camera. However, the specific product or advertisement it was associated with has not yet been identified.
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