Linex Stereo Camera

Why do collectors find the Linex camera so intriguing? In part because it is a crossover piece. An item of interest to collectors in multiple collection genres. A treasured camera for any stereo photography collection; as well as, a heavy cast iron camera relevant to any Lionel train collection.

Produced by the legendary Lionel model train company, the Linex is a camera with an intriguing story. It is said that Joshua Cowan, President of the successful Lionel Mfg Co., received a Stereo Realist camera as a Christmas gift from his son in 1949. He came to find the 3D camera overly complicated and felt he could design a simpler fixed focus stereo camera. Thus in 1953 the Linex Stereo Camera was introduced by the Linex Corporation, a subsidiary of the Lionel Corporation.

Why would the head of a company known for model trains turn to camera production? The answer might surprise you for this was not Joshua Lionel Cowan’s first venture into producing photographic equipment.

In 1899, a young Cohen was granted U.S. patent number 636,492 for the Electric Flash Lamp which used an electric current to ignite magnesium powder creating a flash for lighting photographs. This allowed the flash powder to be ignited by the shutter of a camera instead of manually by the photographer. A year later Cowen would found Lionel Manufacturing Company in New York City.

Cowen called upon his past experience in photography when he decided to enter the stereo photography market. The Linex camera is small but built of heavy cast metal, with a single speed spring leaf shutter, and twin fixed focus lenses. It takes a pair images on 16mm color transparency film, with the cartridge holding 8 exposures. The cartridges were only provided by Linex forcing the users to purchase film from the Lionel subsidiary.

The camera began production in 1953 at the height of the mid-twentieth century 3D furor. The kit included the camera, viewer, film, and envelopes for sending the exposed film to Linex for development and mounting. In 1954, the complete Linex kit sold for $44.50. However even during this peak of stereo photography interest the camera was never successful, perhaps due in part to the limitations imposed by proprietary film cartridges and processing. By 1955 production had ceased at around 85,000 cameras.

Linex Stereo Camera

Manufacturer: Lionel Manufacturing Company
Production: 1953 – 1955
Type: Miniature Stereo Camera
Media: 16mm Linex Cartridge film
Lens: Matched achromats (glass), 1:6.1/32 mm
Focus: Fixfocus

Accessories:

Stereo Viewer
Flash
Plaid zipper case

Collectability:

Linex Stereo Camera

The Linex Stereo Camera scores an 85 out of 100 for collectability. The unique look, stereo configuration, and interesting backstory makes the Linex a prized camera by most collectors. However, a production run of nearly 85,000 means the cameras are not difficult to locate and purchase. Price varies greatly, with average quality cameras starting at around $125 and near mint quality cameras with original box and viewers selling for $450 or more.

Photographer: John Baltz

John is a seasoned professional with nearly 30 years in photography. A native to Northwest Arkansas, John’s first interest in photography began with collecting cameras as a child from antique markets around town. Later, John received a degree in Computer Science from the University of Arkansas. It is his strong knowledge in digital photography, along with a love for the the history of photography that provides for a unique sense of creativity driving many of his projects.