This book documents the history and development of the cameras that were made and marketed by Ilford Ltd.
Ilford decided to stop marketing cameras from the U.K. in 1969 and many of their records were subsequently destroyed. Ilford continued to market cameras in Europe for several more years.
The book brings together some 20 years of research, including previously unrecorded details and personal memories from former employees of the company. Of significant interest are the comprehensive sections about:
· The Witness camera and the companies and personalities involved in it’s protracted development.
· The Advocate and it’s derivatives, together with detailed information about Kennedy Instruments and the founders of the company.
·
The many models and
variants made for Ilford by the Dacora company including the Sportsman, Sportsmaster,
Sporti and others.
This book has been a long running project
which I started many years ago when my father was still alive. My father worked for Ilford
all his working life and for the most part managing Ilford’s camera activities as
Marketing Manager (Cameras) and then Product Group Manager (Equipment). When he retired,
he keenly supported and contributed to my research
into the history of Ilford cameras.
This is a unique book which complements and, in some areas, corrects information previously published in the book, Silver by the Ton – A History of Ilford Limited 1879-1979, by Hercock and Jones, published in 1979.
It will appeal especially to former Ilford camera users and collectors of Ilford cameras and to current and former employees of the company and their relatives.
