Today I’m diving into research on a different kind of lens than my usual cameras and photography topics. A few weeks ago I found a pair of Le Roque Paris mother of pearl opera glasses at a local antique store for only $60 — and they came with the original case. Mother of pearl barrels, ornate gilt brass scroll banding, a silver-toned bridge, and an aged leather case with red silk lining and a tiny […]
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A couple weeks ago, I found three original issues of Fortune Magazine from 1930, the year the magazine originally launched! I couldn’t believe what I was looking at. No. 2, No. 4. & No. 5. March, May, & June. These are the actual things. Oversized, printed on heavy cream paper, with full-color ads that feel more like art prints than advertising. They cost a dollar each when they came out. In 1930, that was roughly […]
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Intro The Polaroid Model 95, 80A, and 80B were among the earliest instant roll film cameras ever produced. Introduced by Edwin Land, the Model 95 was the original, and the 80 line (including 80A and 80B) were smaller and lighter variations designed to make instant photography more portable and accessible. While these cameras share a similar folding design and roll film heritage, they differ in release dates, film formats, physical size, and exposure systems. Together, […]
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Every December, Coca‑Cola seems to bounce back everywhere at once — glowing red trucks, cheerful Santas, glass bottles catching the light. But long before modern holiday commercials, Coca‑Cola was already shaping what Christmas refreshment looked like. This season, I’ve been slowly collecting original Coca‑Cola print ads dating from 1911–1941, and they feel like small time capsules: equal parts marketing, illustration, and cultural history. This felt like the perfect moment to share what I collected so […]
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Intro I recently bought this 1929 Saturday Evening Post advertisement for Franklin Automobiles because of its design. The illustration shows a woman stepping out of a red Franklin with the tagline: “Air-cooled motoring, the only different performance makes Franklin the road champion.” When I examined this further at home, I took it out of its folder, turned it over, and found a surprise. The back carried a continuation of a feature article titled “Peace by […]
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