MADE IN BIRMINGHAM

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CORONET CAMERA COMPANY

308-310 Summer Lane

Aston,

Birmingham

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Coronet was formed around 1926 by F. W. Pettifer in Aston, Birmingham and mainly manufactured large numbers of cheap box and folding cameras. Many of its cameras were distributed via premium schemes or mail order catalogues. Most of its pre-war box cameras and post 1945 plastic moulded cameras appear with different nameplates and lens panel styles. The company linked up with Tiranty of Paris after World War 2 to produce cameras and avoid French import restrictions. These cameras usually have 'Made in France' and French instructions on controls and include the models, Rapide, Le Polo, Weekend and Fildia.

Throughout its life the firm produced various Coronet accessories, flash units, close up filters and viewers and its own Coronet film in 120 and 127 sizes. Close links exist between Coronet, Standard Cameras Ltd. and Conway Cameras with molds and body parts being interchangeable, however the complete extent of this link is not known. Over 50 different types of Coronet cameras exist.

In 1946 the company was incorporated becoming Coronet Ltd.. The company ceased production in 1967. Standard Cameras Ltd. traded between 1931-1955

The factory building in Aston still stands.

There are still many of these cameras around today and they are collectable but of low value due to the numbers manufactured.

Some of Coronets most attractive models are from around the 1950s, when Coronet used bakelite and metal.

Not a great deal is known about the company and any further information would be welcomed.

A list of some of their models is below

Ambassador, Box camera produced from around 1955. 6 cm. x 9 cm. pictures on 120 film, built in green filter. In 1955 this camera cost £1 10s. 9d.

Conway, flash synchronised version of the Ambassador costing £1 13s. 2d.

Flashmaster,  conventionally styled with a black bakelite body, 12 6 cm. x 6 cm. pictures on 120 film, costing £1 9s 3d in 1959.

4 - 4, circa 1957 unusual shaped plastic bodied camera 4 cm. x 4 cm. pictures on 127 film, fixed aperture and shutter.

6 - 6, similar to above but with metal body & fixed aperture and shutter but with two pins for Coroflash unit

Cadet, a   Flashmaster without flash synchronisation, costing £1 5s. 4d in 1959.

Consul, 16 pictures on 120 roll film, single speed shutter

Rapier Mark 1 & 2, based on the Consul,  16 pictures on 120 roll film, single speed shutter with flash synchronisation for the Coro-Flash unit. Two apertures, one for colour and one for black-and-white film. The Mark 1 cost £1 14s. 1d. in 1959. The Mark 2 had a two speed shutter

Victor,  4 x 4 cm. pictures on 127 film. 2 speed shutter (one-thirtieth and one-hundredth of a second) flash synchronisation, 2 apertures , costing £2 12s. 8d. in 1959

REFLEX, simple reflecting finder as the viewing lens with a fixed-focus lens

12-20 Box,  6 x 6 cm. pictures on 120 or 620 film, time and instant shutter, three-point focusing lens with built-in green filter, costing £2 &5d.

F-20 Coro-Flash, flash synchronised version of the 12-20 costing £2 5/1d

Coronet also had two midget cameras in their range;

Midget,  introduced in the mid 1930s. One of Coronets most attractive cameras made in Bakelite but available in black, walnut, green, red and blue. These Coronets are the most popular with collectors, the blue version being particularly rare. The Midget cost 5/- and could also be bought with a Morocco grained leather case for an extra 1/9d. Coronet also made their own 6 exposure film for this model.

Cameo, a more modern  midget camera which was launched just after the second World war in an attempt to revive the midget camera concept

Other Coronet Cameras were;

 CUB FLASH, 3x4 cm black & silver 828 film 1950 

VISCOUNT, bakelite & metal  828 film 1958 3 speed shutter, 2 apertures

Examples of Coronet cameras can be found for sale at classic camera dealers and on Ebay.