Black Chrome Leica? But wait, there is another.

January 23, 2018

#225

Gentle reader,

There are several ways to make metal black: Paint, Powder Coating, Anodizing and one not often heard of: Black Chrome.

Leitz were the first to utilize this new type of metal coating. I did a quick search to see which M model had it, but came up empty. Several sites referred to the black ones as having black chrome, however.

A few photos in this article are from years ago before I learned more about digital photo editing. The above is one. This is the outer sleeve of the most expensive 110 camera at the time. Since Kodak invented SO MANY film formats, including the "drop in" cartridges. 126 used 35mm with far fewer sprocket holes and 110 used 16mm film similarly equipped. The holes they did have were "felt" by a metal finger that the film slid across. When the hole was detected, the film stopped winding. This allowed for precise image spacing. Plus, after the last hole the film kept winding until it stopped and the cartridge could be removed.

I once had something like 50 110 film cameras in my collection. Many are seen above, Circa 2000.

I had decided that I wanted to own a Leica rangefinder camera. Like many camera collectors, I collected all kinds of cameras also seen above. The other panel (not shown) held all 35mm rangefinder cameras, plus 126 RF and SLR cameras. I realized that if I sold off the non-RF cameras I could afford a Leica. This plan worked and I bought a restored IIIC in black paint. Sadly, the restorer/seller was using paint that easily chipped off. I returned it and he sent me a CLA'd one that he had not gotten to stripping the chrome from. I sent it back too because the shutter curtains were in dire straights. I suggested he use FED curtains as I'd read they were better quality. He did replace them and sent the camera back, ready to shoot. I still have it and you may have seen it on FaceBook. I replaced the black "shark skin" with red sea-snake skin.

Black Chrome, as I wrote above, was first used by Leica. It proved to be very durable and they still use it today, I think. Anyway, as I also mentioned, Kodak invented a lot of film sizes and formats. The "Instamatic" cameras used their 126 film starting in the late 1960's. Next, they jumped upon the Subminiature (16mm and 8mm "Spy" cameras) bandwagon by adopting 16mm to make the 110 film. They named the series: Pocket Instamatic. The least expensive was PI 10, each higher number was a little better quality and capability: 20, 30, 40, 50 and the top-of-the-line was the PI 60. The 60 has a rangefinder and their best lens: 26mm f2.7 Ektar. The PI 50 is identical and nearly as expensive, but lacked the rangefinder. Thus the 50 did not sell well. I happened to find and buy one.

Initially, the PI 50 and PI 60 had chrome top and bottom plates. Someone at Kodak must have read about this black chrome process and came up with the idea of a "Deluxe" Pocket Instamatic 60 in black chrome. The idea of exclusivity and "Special Limited Edition" has been around a long time and has made much easy profit for manufacturers of every stripe.

Under the cardboard sleeve is the vinyl, leather-like hard case. They included letter stickers so you could put your initials on it as this owner must have.

Inside is lined with soft cloth and there is a flocked plastic tray which holds all the goodies.

Above shows the size comparison of the two boxes.

Again I apologize for the color of these old photos. Here, the standard PI 60 is in a cardboard case. They did include a flash cube, though.

Whether it was nostalgia or something else, I did a search on eBay for a PI 60. One for sale showed one in a black bag. The photos were small, but the camera looked black. So, for $17.00 and free shipping, I bought it.

When it arrived, I quickly opened the bag and sure enough, the camera is the illusive Black Chrome PI 60! 

Below is all that was in the bag. The K battery had not yet corroded, so I can rebuild it. The original owner wrote down the purchase date on the service brochure. The long strap is still in it's sleeve. Five flashcubes, a roll of film. Also some Kodak slide mailers. Sadly they are no longer good. I doubt 110 slide film still exists. The Duracell battery, despite expiring 12 years ago still has a full charge! Don't have anything that takes it, but might someday.

Kodak came up with this flashcube riser that reduces red-eye pictures.

Note, Kodak is gold and the lettering on top is too, but the flash washed it out.

Possibly some corrosion in the battery chamber, below.

K battery tucks into this chamber.

Above, shows all the iterations of the Pocket Instamatic rangefinder 110 cameras made by Kodak. Trimlites are finished in pebbled plastic meant to look like leather. The Trimlite line used the Flipflash instead of flashcubes, they also turned the identifier labels around so they are read from the front of the camera. The shutter button can no longer be locked.

Other camera makers adopted the 110m 126 and SO many other films that Kodak invented, by making their own cameras that used it. I had read that Leica had even created a 110 film prototype camera but never produced it. Rumors are that it was the basis for the Minox 110 camera. I had one of every rangefinder 110 and 126 film camera in my collection.

From the front, all four of them above and the two PI 60s below.

The aperture blades are in front of the shutter and slide into and outwards to form a variable sized diamond hole.

Depending upon whether I can procure fresh 110 film will be the deciding factor as to whether I will shoot with this and my Minolta 110 SLR Mark II camera.

Thanks for looking!

Scott

January 23, 2018