Bullard Advertising

Bullard Camera Company Advertising

It's Better Than Yours!?

This c1898 ad notes that "The Magazine works with the speed and accuracy of a repeating rifle." Since my Bullard camera came with most of the original plates and sheaths, I thought to give the changing magazine a try. Considering the test results, it is not hard to imagine why this novel design met with limited success and was always missing the rear leather strap. Although I could get the magazine to work, it jammed quite frequently, leading me to wonder about the quality of those 19th century repeating rifles.

Note: The rear strap is still attached to the magazine after the test.

Bullard Advertisement, c1898

Advertising also provides interesting insights to a camera manufacturer's desired position in the market. These two ads from 1898 and 1901 make bold statements in order to catch the public's attention:

"It's better than yours"
"is entirely too fine for the money"
"command the admiration of all who see them"

However, there is wonderful irony in the last line of the 1901 ad:

"Our Enlarged And Superb Line For 1901
Will Be Incomparable."

Shortly afterward, largely due to the decline in the popularity of dry plate cameras, The Bullard Camera Company was absorbed into the Seneca Camera Company in late 1901 or early 1902.

Bullard Advertisement, c1901

More ads can be found on the 19th Century Camera Advertising Page

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