Vintage Spartus Full-Vue TLR Camera | Display Only Collectible | 1950s 120 Film Box Camera | Retro Black Art Deco Home Decor Piece

📸 Step into mid-century charm with this Vintage Spartus Full-Vue Twin Lens Reflex Camera—a 1950s classic made in the USA that’s now perfect for display only!

This sleek black Art Deco box camera instantly adds retro flair to any shelf, coffee table, or photography corner. Although it’s no longer functional (the interior mirror is loose and broken), its iconic design and embossed Bakelite body still tell a story of photographic history.

📜 Introduced by Spartus Camera Corp. of Chicago in 1948, the Full-Vue was produced through the early 1960s as an affordable, pseudo-TLR medium-format camera. Crafted from molded Bakelite with leather-embossed sides and a striking silver-and-black geometric faceplate, this Art Deco gem exposed twelve 6 × 6 cm square images on 120 film. Its larger-diameter viewfinder lens (compared to the taking lens) ensured a bright waist-level focusing screen. Though the shutter offered only T and 1/40 s settings at f/18, this camera captured everyday moments in true vintage style.

📐 Height (closed): 4 ¾ in × 12 cm
Height (viewer open): 7 in × 17.8 cm
Width: 3 ³⁸ in × 8.6 cm
Depth: 4 ½ in × 11.4 cm

Weight: ~680 g (1.5 lbs)


✔️ Condition (Display Only)
This camera is in good vintage condition as a decorative piece:
• The molded Bakelite body and embossed “leather” sides show minor surface wear and gentle scuffs consistent with age—adding authenticity rather than detracting from its charm.
• The top viewfinder hood still pops open smoothly, though the hinged cap is slightly bent.
• The interior mirror is loose and broken at the corners—so it does not function, and light leaks are possible if you attempt to load film. For that reason, it’s strictly display only.
• Some dust resides inside the film chamber; all moving knobs and the winding mechanism still turn, making it a delightful “as-is” conversation piece rather than a working camera.

🖤 Whether you collect vintage cameras or you’re simply hunting for a standout statement item, this Spartus Full-Vue delivers. Its bold Art Deco faceplate, silver geometric lines, and twin-lens profile evoke a bygone era of home photography. Imagine it perched on a floating shelf beside old film reels, or styled atop a retro dresser with potted succulents and hardcover photography books. It’s perfect for:
▪️ Home Decor: Elevate a living room vignette, office shelf, or entryway table with mid-century flair.
▪️ Photography Collector’s Display: Pair it with other TLRs, vintage 35 mm cameras, or classic Leica and Rolleiflex models to create a curated, museum-worthy showcase.
▪️ Gift for Enthusiasts: Surprise a friend who adores retro design, analog photography, or industrial-chic accents.

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