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Thorsten Pöllath

Two vintage Ensign Midget compact folding cameras; Model 55 and 22 with case/box and instructions.


You are bidding on two vintage Ensign Midget compact folding cameras; Model 55 and 22 with case/box and instructions.
These are two wonderful little collector cameras. In good Condition ~Nice Collectable Cameras.


Description
It was introduced in 1934, to a design by Swedish engineer Magnus Niéll - designer of the Ensignette. The production was halted by war work in 1941.
The original models - with a roughly diamond-shaped nameplate surrounding the lens - had a 3-speed shutter and either a fixed-focus ("All Distance") lens with two apertures (A/D model), or a focusing Ensar-Anastigmat lens with 5 stops (A/N model). In 1935, the cheaper "model 22" was introduced, with a single-speed (+T) shutter, simpler viewfinder and other simplifications. The earlier models were renamed "33" and "55" at this time. 
The folded size of the "55" was 91mm x 44mm x 21mm, the film frame was 31.5 x 41.5mm on negative stock approximately 35.8mm wide (film spool width). 
The ensign Midget 55 miniature has a anastigmat Ensar f lens: 6.3 Made in London in 1935  Metal bodied (pressed steel) miniature folding camera with tapered supporting struts that fold away into the body. When extended, the struts are designed to hold the front panel in a rigid position. It features a simple viewfinder that folds out from the back and top, and also a brilliant finder that is normally closed for vertical views but can swing out when a horizonal view is required. It has a variable focus lens, focussing from 3ft to infinity by turning the front cell of the lens until the pin projecting from it faces any of the 5 positions - inf., 12, 8, 5, 3. The aperture is adjustable between f/6.3 and f/22. This camera takes Ensign E10 film which is not available except as expired film. It is possible to roll 35mm film into old backing paper
It is one of a set of midgets which have model numbers 22, 33 and 55. These numbers refer to the cost when new - ie. 22 shillings, 33 shillings and 55 shillings. A shilling is 5 pence in today's money. However, in 1935 this was a lot of money. 22 shillings=£75 today. There was a special edition of silver-painted Midgets for the 1935 Silver Jubilee of King George V and Queen Mary.

Specifications Model 55

Manufacturer	:		Houghton-Butcher Manufacturing Co Ltd
Produced	:		1934 - 1941
Classification	:		Miniature
Body Type	:		Folding Strut
Construction	:		Metal
Film Type	:		E10
Film Width	:		35mm
Image Size	:		1¼ x 1⅝
No. of Images	:		6
Lens Type	:		Ensar-Anastigmat
Focus Type	:		variable
Focal Length	:		55mm
Focal Range	:		3ft - inf.
Aperture Type	:		Iris
Apertures	:		f/6.3 - f/22
Shutter Type	:		Variable
Shutter Speeds	:		T, B, I(1/25, 1/50, 1/100)
Size Open (w x h x d)	:	90 x 45 x 62 mm
Size Closed (w x h x d)	:	90 x 45 x 18 mm
Weight	:			155gr


Specifications Model 22

Manufacturer	:		Houghton-Butcher Manufacturing Co Ltd
Produced	:		1935 - 1941
Classification	:		Miniature
Body Type	:		Folding Strut
Construction	:		Metal
Film Type	:		E10
Film Width	:		35mm
Image Size	:		1¼ x 1⅝
No. of Images	:		6
Lens Type	:		Meniscus
Focus Type	:		Fixed
Focal Length	:		55mm
Focal Range	:		5ft - inf.
Aperture Type	:		Fixed
Apertures	:		f/11
Shutter Type	:		Rotary
Shutter Speeds	:		T, I(1/60s)
Size Open (w x h x d)	:	90 x 45 x 62 mm
Size Closed (w x h x d)	:	90 x 45 x 18 mm
Weight	:			125g


History
Following his success with the Ensignette, manufactured by Houghtons Ltd, Niell, now resident in New York, U.S.A., continued to refine his ideas on the subject of pocketable cameras. His design for the Midget possibly being better known than that of the Ensignette. Niell applied to register his design as early as Dec. 31st 1917 and although it was granted British patent 117,399 on July 18th 1918 the design was not taken up until Ensign Limited began manufacture prior to the introduction of the camera in 1934, the reasons for which I shall examine later. Even a casual glance at the drawings that accompany the specifications for Niell's patent1 clearly reveals the features of the Midget as it later went into production with Houghton- Butcher. The main object of Niell's design was to produce a camera which when folded had no protruding surfaces to catch on clothing etc. and secondly had tapered struts which folded neatly into the body of the camera but when extended exerted a pressure on the front panel in order to hold it rigidly in position. 
When it first appeared in 1934 the Ensign Midget was accompanied by a blaze of publicity. The covers of Ensign catalogues carried photographs of young women sporting the new camera and inside described the introduction as 'A thrilling event'. Ensign also took advantage of the Midgets size with an advertising slogan suggesting that you "Wear it always... like your watch". The B.J.A. of 1935 reviewed it thus: "There can be no doubt that the camera will sell on sight, because of its minimum size and natty appearance. A girl will call it 'sweet,' and want to be given one." Not surprisingly the camera sold well. Ensign initially manufactured only two models of the Midget, the A/D and A/N both of which had an everset 3 Speed shutter. Optically the A/D was simpler having only an All-Distance lens and two simple rotary stops, small and large, it cost œ1 10s. The A/N had better optics a focusing Ensar-Anastigmat lens and 5 stops, it cost £2 10s. Both cameras came with a morocco leather slip case in which to keep the camera and were sold in an attractive orange box with Air Force blue printing. 
1935 saw some new additions to the Ensign Midget range. A cheaper 'Popular' camera was introduced, called the Model "22" it differed in many ways from the earlier Midget cameras. If we look first at the cameras outward appearance, we see that it was given a completely restyled front panel. This model having an attractively stripped lens plate with the words Ensign Midget written obliquely across it. Secondly, the distinctive folding frame finder, fitted to earlier models, is replaced by a much simpler 'swing up' finder on this camera and there was no swing out reflective finder fitted. The model "22" had the same patented 'All distance lens' as the original A/D camera but the shutter was again of a simpler design being a single speed I.T. type. The inside the camera was also changed. The earlier models had swing out spool holders to aid loading. This model had only a curved flap to cover the space where the film spools were housed. The model "22" was sold with a cheap fibre slip case and was packaged in a yellow box with red printing to distinguish it from the more expensive models, however, it was made to the same standard and although simpler and cheaper to manufacture it was still capable of producing good results. Personally, although it was the cheapest model in the Midget range I find it the most attractive and it is possibly the rarest too. The introduction of this camera instigated the adoption of new classification codes for the range. The new camera was called the Model "22" and sold for 22 shilling. the A/D became the Model "33" and sold for 33 shilling. With the A/N becoming the Model "55" and selling for 55 shilling. Very logical, unfortunately when prices rose later in 1938 the logic was somewhat lost! 1935 also saw the introduction of two special models to commemorate the Silver Jubilee of King George V and Queen Mary. The S33 and S55, silver painted versions of the model 33 & 55. These cameras came in a plush lined presentation box and had smart, grey leather, slip cases. Surprisingly these versions sold for the same price as the ordinary black camera. It is also surprising that so few appear to be around today as later Ensign marketed the silver version heavily as a ladies camera, still at the same price as the ordinary model. 
Following the outbreak of war on September 3rd 1939 Ensign Ltd. began to capitalise on war fever, advertising the Midget as; " ...a bare half inch longer than a packet of ten cigarettes, and no thicker. It goes into a tunic pocket, with room to spare. It is essentially the camera for the man in camp. Just the thing to give a fellow who is called up or to a woman on Service." Headlined in their catalogue for 1940 as 'A Remarkable War-Time Camera', the advert goes on to suggest; " keep an Ensign Midget war-time diary." urging the reader to; " Buy a Midget and start now." . 
Ensigns advertising was extremely effective and the Midget sold very well as is evident from the number of cameras around today. It was also very popular with those who used it. So much so that some manufacturers were still producing film for the Midget as late as the mid-seventies.
Although a popular camera, Ensign Limited was forced to cease production, along with the other cameras it produced, around 1941 as the company became more involved with war work. Later following the end of hostilities Barnet Ensign Limited, as the company had then become, discontinued production of the Midget. Instead, they decided to introduce a new range of cameras. The all new Commando which had been designed and produced specifically for the armed forces during the war, and remodelled Ful-Vue and Selfix cameras. The Midget was in production for only six years, yet it achieved a remarkable popularity selling in vast numbers. So, why did the company discontinue the camera after such a short production run? Perhaps it fell victim to the merger of the Houghton-Butcher Manufacturing Co. and Elliot and Sons Ltd., when Barnet Ensign Ltd. came into being. The rationalization that followed saw the demise of many models. We shall never know.

See pictures for cosmetic. All the pictures are from the object itself. What you see is what you will receive. The camera itself has not been tested by myself.

For your information, I will be selling about a hundred subminiature cameras from my collection in the coming months. So if you are a collector follow my account so you can follow my other items for sale the coming months. Thank you for bidding.



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