I took a day and went through my Polaroid cameras. Some are special—my grandfather and uncle both used Polaroids, and I inherited theirs. Others are ones I’ve owned and used over the years. The goal was simple: add them to the database I’m building of the collection. It took longer than expected. I kept stopping to read, research, and fall down small rabbit holes.
The one I’m focusing on here is my grandfather’s Polaroid 800—“The 800.” Made between 1957 and 1962, it sits in the middle of the Folding Instant roll film era. Not the most famous model before or after, but solidly part of the story. What makes this one great is everything that came with it. My grandfather was the type who, when he bought something, bought all the pieces—the case, flashes, meter, accessories. I have a few of his cameras like that. Another pattern I noticed: he didn’t use them much. He’d buy them, use them a few times, put them away, then upgrade a few years later and try photography again. It worked out for me. Low mileage, high on accessories.
While sorting them today, I got pulled into reading about Edwin Land—an American innovator with 500 patents, who, in my opinion, doesn’t get enough credit. Polaroid never seemed to rest. A new model every few years—like what we see now with iPhones. I’m lucky to have many of them here. About fifty Polaroids in total.
tr/trp
