V. P. Twin

 
Another simple British box camera. Shooting 127 film, this is the smallest box camera in the collection. It was launched in 1935 by E. Elliott Ltd and its optical plant BOLCo (British Optical Lens Company) in Birmingham. It is made of bakelite and was available in other colours such as burgundy and blue, but these are rarer and command a higher price.

Amazingly, it was sold in three parts at Woolworths, each costing 6d. This was because Woolworths had a policy at the time to not sell anything for over 6d. So, the total price of the camera was 1s 6d, but you had to buy it in three instalments: front, back, shutter/lens assembly.

Production stopped with the outbreak of WW2, but the camera was relaunched in 1952 with a different faceplate.

Just like its contemporary the Ensign Double 8, it shoots sixteen frames aided by the double windows on the back.

 
The lens is a single element Bloomed Bolco meniscus lens, and there is a single aperture of 12.5. There is a single instantaneous shutter speed and the shutter for this camera was made by Coronet. As usual with early box cameras, the shutter speed is not indicated anywhere in the literature. Interestingly, moving the lever in either direction will release the shutter. The Art Deco Cameras blog measured the shutter speed of one particular model at 1/200! This is a big leap from the usual ball park of 1/30. We will have to test ours to see if it is accurate.

The chrome frame finder folds away flush with the body.

I found an original advert for this camera from a 1938 copy of Popular Photography.  The camera is listed for $1 and says the following:

V. P. Twin Candid-type miniature camera. A swell little camera. Made of bakelite, sturdy, compact and attractive. Easily tucked away in pocket or purse. Simple to operate. Gives clear, sharp pictures, capable of beautiful enlargements. Takes 16 pictures on standard No. 127 film. Fitted with ground and polished Meniscus lens; view finder instantly snapped into position. Take portraits, scenics, outdoors, hobbies, still life, etc. Start splendid hobby with this little wonder camera. Mail only $1 or sent C. O. D. plus postage.

 The original instructions state that you remove the back of the camera by inserting a coin into the slit between the front and back and then twisting.

It has the following guidelines:

The V. P. Twin is strictly a snapshot camera. The same rules which govern snapshot photography with any other camera should be followed.  The subject should be in broad open sunlight but the camera must not. The sun must be behind your back or over your shoulder. 

Place the back of the camera against your face in order to steady the camera at the moment of snapping the picture.  

Best results are had by keeping the camera on the same level  as the subject, thus if a picture of a child or a dog is desired, the operator should assume a kneeling position to bring the camera to the same level as the subject, or place the subject on an elevation to the same level as the camera. 

Portraits may be made with this camera as long as the subject is not less than 4 feet away from the camera. For other pictures 8 to 10 feet is the best distance. Due to the special design of the V. P. Twin lens, anything beyond this distance will be in sharp focus. Thus it is possible to select a picturesque or scenic background for your portrait subject and thereby greatly enhance the beauty of your picture. 

 

EDIT

We since acquired the 1950s model. Another camera thrown in with another purchase. Here's a picture to show the updated faceplate: