Purma Special

Released in 1937, this is one of the quirkier cameras in the collection, and not just because it shoots 127 film.  This bakelite camera has a glass lens, plastic viewfinder, fixed aperture of f/6.3, curved focal plane and nice art deco styling. It has three shutter speeds 1/25, 1/150, and 1/450, and a unique shutter mechanism, or "gravity shutter". To operate the camera, decide on the speed required, slow, medium or fast, cock the shutter and press the shutter release. It all sounds straightforward, but the shutter speed selection part is pretty unique. For medium speed, hold the camera horizontal. For slow hold the camera vertical with the winding knob down. For fast hold the camera vertical with winding know up. The orientation has no bearing on the photo because the camera shoots in square format.