Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2011/01/07

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Subject: [Leica] Cigaret lighter camera
From: lrzeitlin at gmail.com (Lawrence Zeitlin)
Date: Fri, 7 Jan 2011 15:36:32 -0500

Jeffery asked about the cigarette subminiature camera.
- - - - -
The camera is an Echo 8, produced by Suzuki on and off after 1951. It looks
like a Zippo lighter of that era and actually works as a lighter. It had a
fixed focus lens and took a mini roll of 8 mm film. Allegedly it was
intended to be a spy camera or at least a topic of curiosity. There is one
on display in the CIA museum although there is no evidence that it was
actually used in spying. I recall the price being in the neighborhood of $50
or $60 rather than the $2000 currently being asked.
Here is a listing of the camera:
http://www.camerapedia.org/wiki/Echo_8_and_Camera-Lite
Larry Z


Replies: Reply from jsmith342 at gmail.com (Jeffery Smith) ([Leica] Cigaret lighter camera)