Clarus

Sociedad Ibero-Americana de la Historia de la Fotografia Museo Fotográfico y Archivo Historico "Adolfo Alexander"
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CLARUS

A tribute to an undervalued American Classic

One of the first series. Scott Bilotta collection

The Clarus model MS-35 camera was made and sold by the Clarus Camera Manufacturing Company of Minneapolis, Minnesota USA between 1946 and 1952. The MS-35 was the only camera model manufactured by Clarus. After a management change, the camera was sold under Wescon name . They also prepared a lower priced central shutter model and its original flash received a golden reflector.

It used the most perfect formula of the era, always using the typical American tooling facilities die cast molding, instead of pressed parts:

- Its departure was from the Leica II concept with an enlarged body in order to be easier assembled by unskilled American technicians.

-Adopted the Praktiflex type shutter design to speed production alignment handcraft.

- Used a sturdy body aiming a large market and consumers catching several other market niches,

- Was sold at a low price level to be placed everywhere.

Immediately, it suffered an unjustified attack and kept the fame of being unreliable and a poor performer.

Today surviving units prove they were superior to famous makes of the era.