The Coronet Clipper is a medium format folding viewfinder camera manufactured by the Coronet Camera Company of Birmingham and introduced in 1959. A charming and characterful piece of late British camera design, with one delightful quirk: the instructions for use are printed on a plate directly below the lens — a wonderfully practical touch that tells you everything about the era's approach to accessible photography.

Condition

• Overall: Reasonable condition for age.
• Shutter: Works — note that the bellows must be fully extended for the two parts of the shutter mechanism to engage correctly.
• Lens: Fine.
• Viewfinder: Slightly hazy but no fungus.
• Bellows: Intact. Not checked for light tightness — noted for transparency.
• Cosmetic: Some marks and rubbing to the body consistent with age — please refer to photos for detail.
• Overall use: A lovely decorative piece; could potentially be used with film but bellows light-tightness would need to be verified first.

Provenance

• Maker: Coronet Camera Company, Birmingham, England — founded in 1926, Coronet was one of Britain's most prolific camera manufacturers, producing a wide range of affordable cameras for the mass market throughout the 1930s–60s. The Clipper was one of their later folding camera models, introduced as the folding camera format was beginning to give way to 35mm.
• Model: Coronet Clipper — medium format folding viewfinder camera, taking 120 roll film.
• Introduced: 1959.
• Film: 120 roll film [widely available today].
• Significance: A late example of British medium format folding camera design — the printed instruction plate below the lens is a charming and unusual detail that makes this model particularly distinctive among collectors.