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| Brand | Purma |
|---|---|
| Model | Special |
| Body type | Rigid |
| Focal length (equiv.) | 2 1/4 |
| Max aperture | f6.3 |
| Format | 1 1/4 |
| Storage types | 127 Roll Film |
| Battery Description | None |
Condition: Excellent
Purma Special Bakelite 127 Camera
Circa 1937
The Lens is a 2 1/4" F6.3 Beck Anastigmat
Takes 16 1 1/4" x 1 1/4" on either 27 or 127 Roll Film
Bakelite body no cracks or chips
Supplied with the origional screw on lens cap
Fully working and in great condition
General Purma Information
Tom Purvis, a renowned artist, and Alfred C. Mayo founded Purma Cameras Ltd. in 1935. David Brock of Brock Fireworks gave financial help to launch the company in London. Their office was at Brock House, Langham St, London W1.
The cameras of the Purma brand were 127 roll film viewfinder cameras with innovative gravity controlled shutters, based on the company's patents of 1935 and 1936, designed by founder A.C. Mayo. Purma cameras and accessories were sold by R. F. Hunter of London.
The Purma Special was made almost entirely of Bakelite, apart from the glass lens, plastic viewfinder optics and shutter & spring mechanisms. Styling was apparently due to Raymond Loewy’s London Office.
There were several interesting features;
The focal plane is curved, with a solid metal, curved focal-plane shutter with three speeds, controlled by a weight, which varied the slit-width. The shutter is cocked using a pear-shaped lever on the top edge, above the lens; the slit width/shutter speed depends on which way up the camera is held. Horizontal gives medium speed, vertical with winding knob down gives slow, and vertical, knob up, fast. See the Living Image site for photos of the shutter.
The lens is sprung to telescope out of the body when the screw-on lens cap is removed. Capping (and so collapsing) the lens locks the shutter release - which, unusually, is on the photographer's left.
The ever-ready case opens upwards from underneath the lens, unlike most cases, which open forward from the back.
The Purma is said to be the first camera to have plastic optics, although this is in the viewfinder only.
There were three models marketed:
Purma Speed, introduced 1936; enamelled metal/chrome body
Purma Special, introduced 1937; all Bakelite body
Purma Plus, introduced 1951, costing £12-12-0 and lasting until ~1959; aluminium body
Another model, the SAMA, stayed in prototype status despite Purma's 1952 patent on it.
The Purma Speed was a metal-bodied camera with a six-speed shutter, 1/25-1/200 and a flip-up viewfinder
Country of Origin: England, production: 1936-1959 (suspended during World War II)
Shutter: curved focal-plane gravity controlled, 3-speeds, Slow: 1/25, Medium: 1/150, Fast: 1/450 (Special); 1/500 (Plus)
Lens: (Purma Special) Beck Anastigmat, 2¼ inch (~57mm) f/6.3, collapsible
Film: 127 roll film, sixteen 31mm (1¼inch) square exposures
Camera House Price: £25.00
The Purma Special Bakelite 127 Camera is shown in Cameras > Vintage Camera.
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Delivery will be made by Yodel Direct, you will be able to track your order online to find your scheduled delivery date. Any deliveries scheduled to arrive on the Saturday or Bank Holiday will be delivered the following working day. We aim to dispatch your order within 24 hours of the time the order has been placed.
Looking after your camera
Use a Camera Bag
A camera bag does more than just protect the camera against scratches and dust: It keeps it safe from rain because many are waterproof on the outside.
Be Very Careful Around the LCD Screen and Camera Lens
Use only special equipment to clean your camera’s LCD screen and camera lens. Buy a special cleaning kit that includes liquid solutions, microfiber cloths and brushes that have been specially designed to clean your camera lens.
Never Leave Your Batteries in Your Camera for Too Long
Many camera batteries are now alkaline or lithium formats. If you keep your camera with the batteries inside of it in a moist area, then the batteries can get corrosive. So if you’re thinking about just putting your camera on the shelf for several months, do yourself a favor and remove them.
Turn Your Camera Off Prior to Doing Anything
Before you do anything to your camera, always keep in mind that it should be turned off first. No matter what it is—swapping lenses, changing memory cards or disconnecting or attaching cables—your camera should be turned off.
Cold and Wet Weather Can Wreak Havoc on Your Camera Body
Take your camera out only in a waterproof bag. If the weather’s unusually cold, just wrap your camera in a plastic bag that has silica desiccant packets for the reduction of moisture. It’s also a smart idea to have a soft towel with you to wipe off any moisture, just in case it should get on your camera.
Good Memory Card Care Is Good Camera Care
Only transport your memory cards inside of a protective caseMake sure the memory cards stay dust-free at all times. When removing memory cards, make sure you do so indoors or in non-dusty situations.
Make sure that you keep memory cards only in cool places. Never keep them in places where they may heat up, like dashboards or glove compartments.
Never place your memory cards close to magnetic sources. Examples of magnetic sources are things such as audio speakers, TV monitors and actual magnets.
Use a Filter to Protect Your Camera Lens
The lens of your camera is naturally fragile. As such, it’s susceptible to scratches, cracks, dents…you name it. A UV filter will not only will you give your lens a fighting chance, but you’ll also enhance the quality of your pictures.
Condensation Can Be Controlled
Condensation normally happens when you move your camera between different temperatures.
Allow your camera a chance to naturally get used to the hotter environment. Don’t place it inside a closed plastic bag when transporting it between different temperatures! Just let the camera sit in the humid temperature for a while, until condensation disappears.
If this still doesn’t get rid of all of it, you can utilize a soft cloth to wipe away any remaining moisture and marks left behind from the condensation.
