An Ensign Mickey Mouse box camera by Houghton-Butcher.
Houghton-Butcher MFG Co. Ltd.
Category
Photographic technology
Date
1935
Materials
Wood, Textile, Bakelite?, Glass, Metal
Measurements
89 x 50 x 83 mm
Place of origin
London
Order this imageCollection
Fox Talbot Museum, Wiltshire
NT 1524630
Summary
An Ensign Mickey Mouse box camera manufactured by Houghton-Butcher in 1935. The camera has a black and red Mickey Mouse sticker below lens; above is the name/model of camera is embossed into the camera's textile covering. Wooden box exterior covered with black textured material, with a leather strap attached to top by metal rivetts, and metal winding knobs and clasps. The strap is embossed 'ENSIGN MICKEY MOUSE'. The back of camera (held closed with a metal clasp) is embossed with name of manufacturer, and place of manufacture. There is a label on inside of back directing user to 'Use Ensign Lukos MICKEY MOUSE M10 FILM'. Details of manufacturing 'in England by arrangement with Walt Disney Mickey Mouse Limited' is printed below directive about film. Bakelite (?) film reel cover is embossed with 'PATENT APPLIED FOR '.
Provenance
Part of The Fenton Collection. A gift from British Film Institute in 2017. From 1986-1999, part of BFI collection for the Museum of the Moving Image. BFI purchased collection in 1986 from James Fenton's Museum of Photography, Port Erin, Isle of Man 1976-1986.
Makers and roles
Houghton-Butcher MFG Co. Ltd., manufacturer