The Universal Camera Company was founded in 1932 by Otto W. Githens and Jacob J. Shapiro at 521 South Avenue, New York City and later moved to 28 West 23rd street, New York. Otto W. Githens was the president of the company. He was born in Philadelphia in 1893. His previous work experience included sales, financier, and taxi-fleet operator. Jack Shapiro’s early years are unknown, but his previous work experience was as an insurance broker. Neither gentlemen had camera manufacturing experience so the two approached Carl H. Whitlock of the Norton Company of Lockport, New York with a request to design a camera to address the need for an affordable camera utilizing the emerging molded plastic industry. However difficulties arose between the two companies near the end of manufacturing setup and Norton went forward with producing the camera on their own. Githens and Shapiro decided to develop a similar camera on their own and was able to bring it to market earlier than Norton. It was called the univex A which sold for 0.39 cents and required Univex film on a uniquely designed spool. The camera distribution was handled by New York Merchandise company, A sub-company under Universal. The camera was originally marketed as a premium or giveaway in connection with other merchandise. Norton introduced their version of the same camera in 1934 and priced it at 0.50 cent. Since it was more expensive and late to market compared to the univex, it did not get the same marketing support as the univex. Universal was already producing just short of 1000 cameras a day in 1933 and produced well over a million in 1934. In 1937 the company sold over 22 million rolls of specialty no. 00 univex roll film helping to strengthen the new company financially. In 1936 the company ventured into movie camera manufacturing with the affordable Univex Cine-8 for just $9.95. It was designed by George Kende, Universals Chief engineer.
With the on sought of WWII starting in Europe, film shortages were impacting the business in 1941. When America entered the war, the company pivoted and produced over $6 million in binoculars, gunsights and other optics to support the war fighting effort, utilizing 99% of the factory for essential war work. Universal was awarded the Army-Navy "E" Award, or World War II Production Award, for achieving "Excellence in Production" of war equipment.
After WWII George Kende designed the Universal Mercury 35mm Half-frame Camera. A very successful camera. The Universal Camera Company would typically procure the camera parts from various local manufacturers in New York and New Jersey and then perform final assembly and packaging. In 1949 universal experienced a downturn due to various sources including a declining economy, the introduction of higher quality cheap cameras from Japan, the failure and costs of the Minute-16 and the emergence of Polaroid. On April 15th, 1952 the company filed for bankruptcy in New York. It survived the bankruptcy for several years and ended operations in 1964.
CLICK HERE for a listing and information on Universal Camera Corporation cameras
Ref:
1917 Photo-era magazine Volume 38 - Page 103
1945 LIFE Magazine - May 21, p583
1980 Dec 17, The Antique Trader Weekly Magazine, Morris Moses, p83-84
2005 Submin.com (http://www.submin.com/large/collection/univex/introduction.htm)
2017 camera-wiki.com (http://camera-wiki.org/wiki/Universal)
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2021-02-14 09:34:17
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