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3197

Minox Spy Camera Miscellany [174201]

Currency:USD Category:Cameras & Photo Start Price:50.00 USD Estimated At:100.00 - 200.00 USD
Minox Spy Camera Miscellany [174201]

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File folder two inches thick with Minox brochures, billheads, and newspaper and magazine articles on spy cameras. Miscellaneous: five leather cases for Minox camera; four flash attachments; two measuring chains, shutter

The WW2 OSS and Cold War Spy Camera and Relic Collection, c 1942-c1970
The Minox Spy Camera Collection was assembled by Paul Franklin who worked with John Ford, who worked for the OSS (Office of Strategic Services) in Germany, and collected secretive German and other “spy” equipment from World War 2 to about 1970. The collection includes dozens of cameras, a few relic weapons and an associated library of information on these rare pieces. The Minox “Spy” camera collection may be the largest ever offered at auction.
America’s entry into the war following the intelligence failure of the attack on Pearl Harbor, led to the establishment of the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) in June, 1942 to September, 1945. The OSS was formed during the administration of Franklin D. Roosevelt under the Joint Chiefs of Staff and therefore gave coverage to all Armed Services. It was the predecessor of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). The library for the relics within the collection contains actual training manuals of the period and are unredacted, offered in an upcoming auction.
The materials (cameras, artifacts and relics) collected include a “spy” camera collection and a number of relic weapons. The Collection centers on Minox cameras. (lots 3166 to 3205.) The weapons, relics and library will be in an upcoming auction. The cameras include mini cameras used and manufactured by German, Russian and Japanese companies, mostly under the Minox company name. One of the cameras is disguised as a cigarette lighter. Another as a match box. A small library of information on many of these cameras can be found in lot 3197. This may be the best spy camera collection to be put to auction in decades.
A Brief History of Minox
Walter Zapp invented a mini camera in 1936 that was intended for international use. The factory was constructed in Riga, Latvia and began production of their first commercial model in 1938. The original Minox, model VEF was made of monel, an alloy of nickel (from 52 to 67%) and copper, with small amounts of iron, manganese, carbon, and silicon with better corrosion resistance than stainless steel. Two early models are catalog lot numbers 3199 built in Riga, Latvia from 1937 to 1943 and lot number 3200 built by the Russians after invading Latvia. Both are extremely rare, and among the very first “mini” “spy” cameras ever made! Those first cameras were often described as no larger than a “package of chewing gum.” Only 17,000 Riga cameras were made between 1938 and 1943. The Latvian cameras were produced under German and Russian occupation, thus models exist for three different political entities during the 1938-1945 period. Many of the early Minox cameras in the Collection have both the original cases, as well as the rare focal length measuring chain, bot of which are listed in the descriptions as well as in photographs on the Icollector auction site.
The Minox Model II began its life in Germany after the end of the War. A few of the first of the model II were constructed of the Latvian Riga parts, but production soon changed to aluminum body shells to make the cameras lighter. Other important changes were made, including the addition of a black anodized surface, rendering them non-reflective, and thus more secretive as seen incatalog #’s 3182, 3185, 3189, 3192, 3193, 3194 and 3195. These are more rare than the regular aluminum finish. It continued to be used as an espionage camera by both sides of the Cold War. Lens problems led to a redesign of the lens in later models. (See D. Scott Young, The Riga Minox)
Model III and IIIS were introduced in 1951. It was the last design produced by Zapp.
Model B claims to be the most successful mini-camera od all Minox. The company made more than 384,000 cameras over a fifteen year span. It incorporated a exposure meter, a major step forward.
Model C began in 1969. It was battery powered and had the longest body of the Minox cameras. Further advancements were made during the 1860s and onward, including view finders, electronic exposure control, flash ability, lenses and much more.
Model BL came out in 1972, with only 18,000 made, a very rare acquisition today.
Model LX came out in 1978.
Model EC came out in 1971 Very different design.
In 1988 the Company was reorganized under receivership.
Model AX 1992
The MINOX TLX Camera was available until September 2014. Minox is now part of the Blazer Group GmBH, with its facilities in southern Germany. Production of 8x11 film ended in 2015 but is still available through various sources. The company now produces high-quality sports optics and night-vision devices, its only camera models being trail cameras.
Much has been written on the uses of Minox mini-“spy” cameras through history. These stories are beyond the scope of this essay Please see the story in Lot 3200
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