Polaroid Big Swinger 3000 Camera
date: label: date made
content: ca 1960s
name: label: maker
content: Polaroid Corporation
notes: label: Description
content: In 1947, Edwin H. Land, founder of the Polaroid Corporation, first demonstrated his instant photographic process. Years of research and development culminated in the Polaroid Land camera Model 95 for sale to the general public in 1948. It held eight 3 ¼ x 4 ¼” sepia-toned images, which begin processing in the camera and finish developing once pulled from the camera. Prints were ready for the user within sixty seconds. Over the next 50 years, continued advances in Polaroid technology produced a wide-variety of cameras and film, polarizing lenses, and 3-D products sold in the United States and around the world.
label: Description
content: Polaroid cameras are popular among professional and amateur photographers as well as artists, but certain cameras are marketed to specific groups, such as young adults and teenagers. The low-cost Swinger camera and Type 20C black and white film were introduced in 1965, just two years after Polaroid perfected instant color film. Prize-winning ad campaigns using slogans such as “$19.95 swings it” were effective. The Swinger gained popularity with young adults and later models like the Polaroid Big Swinger 3000 were produced. Thirty years later the Joycam is the Polaroid camera marketed for this same age group.
label: Description
content: Polaroid’s innovative cameras, both instant film and digital, and related products continue to appear in stores and online as the corporation goes through bankruptcy. Digital photography and declining sales make uncertain the company’s future.
label: Description
content: From its invention in 1839, the camera has evolved to fit many needs, from aerial to underwater photography and everything in between. Cameras allow both amateur and professional photographers to capture the world around us. The Smithsonian’s historic camera collection includes rare and unique examples of equipment, and popular models, related to the history of the science, technology, and art of photography.
label: Location
content: Currently not on view
setName: label: See more items in
content: Work and Industry: Photographic History
label: See more items in
content: Photography
label: See more items in
content: Artifact Walls exhibit
creditLine: label: Credit Line
content: Gift of Robert Babcock
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of American History
identifier: label: ID Number
content: 2001.0286.02
label: accession number
content: 2001.0286
label: catalog number
content: 2001.0286.02
objectType: label: Object Name
content: camera, instant
physicalDescription: label: Physical Description
content: plastic (overall material)
label: Physical Description
content: metal (overall material)
label: Physical Description
content: glass (overall material)
label: Measurements
content: overall: 15 cm x 19.5 cm x 14 cm; 5 7/8 in x 7 11/16 in x 5 1/2 in