Concealed Vest Camera, 1886
Artifact no. 1981.1098
Canada Science and Technology Museum
Publication/Creation Date
1886Description
One of the most prevalent recent developments in wearable technology design is the body-mounted camera, made popular by devices like the GoPro. This early spy camera—or concealed vest camera, as it was more widely known—offered a similar possibility to early adopters of still film technology over a century ago. Equipped with a 40 mm lens and rotary diaphragm shutter for high-resolution still photography, this camera came fitted with a neck strap and shutter release cord for one-handed operation. Designed to be as inconspicuous as possible, its thin profile kept it flush against the chest, presumably hidden under a vest or waist coat, while its small protruding lens was meant to poke through a button hole for a clear shot. The release cord could then be pulled discretely, from below the camera, engaging the shutter without drawing unwanted attention.
Made in Berlin, Germany.Augments
Collecting,
Concealing,
Deceiving,
Evading,
Gathering,
Recording,
Reporting,
Revealing,
Sneaking,
Spying,
SurveillingSource
https://ingeniumcanada.org/ingenium/collection-research/collection-item.php?id=1981.1098.001
Date archived
April 6 2018Last edited
July 5 2021