Humourous Advert In Old Camera Magazine

<p>A friend in the UK recently sent me three fascinating editions of the Brit 'Amateur Photographer' magazine, all from the 1930s. The oldest one was dated 6th September 1933 and not only included some enticing camera adverts such as the Zeiss Ermanox with F1.8 Ernostar at the give-away price of GBP16-7-6d, but also this humourous advert from Wallace Heaton's of New Bond Street London W1. The strange thing is that certainly post-WW2, Wallace Heaton's had a reputation for being rather stuffy and not the sort of photographic retailer to indulge in whimsy or anything humourous. However, back in earlier days it seems a different philosophy ruled at W.H. Ltd ........ (Pete In Perth)</p>

<p>Peter,</p>

<p>Where is the link?</p>

<p>/Clay</p>

<p>Oops!! The scan of the funny advert was too big, so here goes with a shrunken version which hopefully posts successfully ................. (P in P)</p><div></div>

<p>I guess nobody is going to believe that a Zeiss Ermanox with F1.8 Ernostar could have been sold for under 17 GBP new back in 1933, so here's a scan of that advert too:</p><div></div>

That Heaton ad is charming. "I'd like-a Leica, but Ikonta-ford it", indeed!

<p>aaah, those were the days.... ;)</p>

<p>fyi £47 in 1933 is equivalent to about £2,500 at todays prices (£16 about £900 today).<br>

That's a lot of money - think what you get for that in today's cameras..</p>

<p>But the Ermanox will continue to gain in money value, faster than our today's cameras and was build like a tank</p>

<p>Thanks, <strong>Pete</strong>; that Wallace Heaton ad is a delight. As for the Ermanox...Well, it's been on <em>my</em> Christmas list for quite a few years...</p>

<p>I'd love an Ermanox too, but like the ad says "Only one more payment and the lens cap's mine"..</p>

<p>Nice one, Pete! Thanks for posting.</p>

<p>April 1 specials, I take it?</p>

<p>Thanks for sharing that's a riot! I don't know the company (then or now) but we could use, or rather the industry needs to take it's self less seriously and this is a whimsical delight! Thanks !!</p>

<p> Now who can explain the money? 16 pounds? 7 shilling? 6 pence? I know the UK decimalised the pound in late the late 1960's or early 1970's. How did it work before that?</p>

<p>Hi, Waite Well, back in 1933 there were 20 shillings to a single Pound, and twelve pence to a shilling. Finally Britain saw sense in the early 70s and went decimal, with 100 New Pence to a Pound, thereby saving a lot of schoolkids from nightmares over arithmetical challenges such as percentage discounts, multiplication and dvision. </p>

<p>Some other things to consider for you. According to my currency converting table, that GBP 16-7-6d in 1933 was equivalent to just under $70 in greenbacks. In turn, that is equivalent in today's inflation-factored dollar value at $1,180. So even that reduced price of 16-7-6d down from 47 Pnds, was not to be sneezed at. However, I reckon you'd still be ahead if you could turn back time to 1933 and buy one, to bring Back To The Future by time machine or whatever, because McK's values an Ermanox today at between $1800 - $2500. (PN)</p>