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Kodak Brownie Starmite


ralf_j.

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<p>As I was leaving the camera show last Sunday and the vendors were cleaning up their stuff, I noticed cute Brownie Starmite which had seen way better days, a Minolta Flash Auto 25 and a Hoya 58mm filter new still in the box. I really only wanted the Minolta flash but the vendor told me "they are all yours for $3" . "Ok" I agreed.<br />My haul was not bad that day, however I really poured all over the tiny little starmite as it was in dire need of attention if it was going to produce any photographs, ever. My policy is simple, a camera that produces no images and is beyond any resuscitation, belongs in a recycling bin.<br />Corrosion and rust was this little brownies enemy, the flash bulb dome was almost completely corroded and the screw that holds the 2 AA batteries that power the flash bulb, covered in a layer of orange rust. The copper contacts for the batteries were all covered in some sort of a corrosive residue...<br />I used steel wool to eat away at the corrosion in both the dome and the battery contacts; the flash dome looked a little better, but not much, while the battery contacts, revealed their original copper contacts once again, now the real test. I sacrificed one AG1 Sylvania bulb and placed it in the socket, inserted two fresh duracells in the battery chamber, wound the camera and fired... and... no pop, no flash, hmmmm. Opened the chamber again cleaned the contacts some more, blew away the dust, reseated the AG1 bulb, and tried again; this time the Bulb flashed with a nice pop and a blinding light, YEAH!!!<br />I removed the film loading mechanism and cleaned the film traveling path from dust and grit, known to scratch emulsions quite easily. Cleaned the lens the best I could, and had it ready for an outing around the city. I loaded with the quick and dirty Efke 100 B&W and here are the results processed in XTOL stock.:

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<p><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4145/5090418586_26ef6f18ee.jpg" alt="Kodak Starmite" width="500" height="479" />

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</p><div>00XV45-291295584.jpg.cd9ad62ce1b96b2cfd2a1f06a386c277.jpg</div>

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These were great little cameras. I remember in 1963 a friend of my fathers that worked for the Detroit Free Press asked if we wanted to fly with him to the Indy 500 to cover the time trials the day before the race. We said sure, but I didn't have a camera of my own at the time, so I went out and got a Starmite and a bunch of film. We all jumped in his Cessna Skymaster and flew over to the Indy race track from Detroit. So sporting a little Kodak and a Press Pass from the Detroit Free Press, I got some fantastic shots in Gasoline Alley and we were even allowed right up on the track in the pits. Also I remember I got a great shot of the Borg trophy that didn't have too many winners on it yet at the time. I don't know what ever happened to those pictures or negatives. Sure wish I had kept track of them now. I also remember using that camera to take some great shots of Big Daddy and his "Rat Fink" dragster at the Detroit Speedway.
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<p>Ralf, they're great pics! They certainly evoke memories of my first cameras, with the large format and so-so lenses producing that ethereal softness. There's something extraordinary about "Lost Tourist", a sort of visual social comment of some sort. I have a Starmite which looks capable of image-making; I'm tempted to give it a go. Great post; thanks.</p>
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<p>Hello Cliff - thank you for commenting and sharing your story, I appreciate it.<br />Hi Rick - thanks for commenting, that tourist sure seemed lost, unwittingly holding on to her digicam, which made for a reason to capture her in that moment.<br />Hi Mike - thanks for your comments and info, I actually found a commercial for the starmite which was quite interesting<br />Matt - the normal adjustable reels by Patterson, can be adjusted to 127 with ease, just twist, and align and snap into place. The negatives were scan on my Epson using 120 holders, I know it is not ideal, but it is pretty close to flat.</p>
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<p>Hi Chuck, thanks for the comments, I appreciate it. There were a couple of indoor flash pics of my kids, which came out pretty good, so the flash is definitely working as it should.</p>

<p>John - it is nice to hear from you and have definitely been missing you at the show, although our dear friend Sterling was a no show the last time as well. I am hoping he will return on the November show. I am working through a roll of chromogenic film (Konica VX400) on my "new" Nikon F which I picked up from KEH for a the sweet price of $59. It's in fabulous condition. I managed to pick up a micro-Nikkor 55mm f/3.5 with it as well for $27.</p>

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  • 2 weeks later...

<p>This was my first camera. It was handed down to me in 1973 from my mother, who had used it to shoot superslides for at least ten years. I used to shoot outdated Verichrome Pan film that I got at the drugstore.</p>

<p>One of the best things about the "Star" series cameras - no matter what condition they are in when you find them, the shutters almost ALWAYS still work. Oh - and also that fantastic sound the wind knob makes. : )</p>

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  • 6 years later...

Hello Ralf! Great pictures. I recently picked up a Starmite of my own at an antique store when I was in Rochester, and the flash dome is in poor shape.

FlashDome.thumb.jpg.bca15d9309ff24ea1320518ad92783d8.jpg

I am by no means a camera expert; I'm 17 and this is the second camera I'm gussying up, my first being a Kodak Brownie Hawkeye (she's a real beaut now.) I was wondering if you had any advice on removing/fixing up the flash dome?

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