New Hampshire Souvenir Keychain Camera
Name/Title
New Hampshire Souvenir Keychain CameraEntry/Object ID
346Tags
InterestingDescription
This novelty artifact is a non-functional, miniature representation of a Single Lens Reflex (SLR) camera, produced as a souvenir for the New Hampshire tourism market. Rather than capturing images, the device functions as a "Stanhope" or optical viewer; when the user looks through the small circular aperture on the rear while pointing the "lens" toward a light source, a micro-photographic transparency of a local landmark is visible. Constructed from silver-tone cast metal and textured plastic to mimic professional leatherette, it features a spring-loaded shutter button that provides a tactile click but performs no mechanical function. These objects represent a mid-century tradition of miniature photographic curiosities that leveraged the visual language of professional optics to serve as portable mementos of travel.Category
Collectible