1949 / Universal Camera Meteor / Vintage Camera

The Meteor Universal Camera Corp camera, known as the Universal Meteor, is a 620 film camera produced around 1947-1949 by the Universal Camera Corporation in New York City. It features a small, streamlined body with a pull-out lens tube and a coated lens that can be guess focused from infinity to 5 feet. The camera exposes 2¼” square images (6×6 cm) on 620 film and includes a self-resetting shutter with “instant” and “bulb” modes selectable via a lever on the lens barrel. It has four aperture settings (f/11, f/16, f/22, f/32) and uses an extinction meter for light metering, alongside a metal plate showing Weston film speeds (ISO 25, 50, 100, 200). The viewfinder is small and not coupled with the lens, and the film loading chamber opens from the bottom instead of a removable back. Originally priced around $15, the camera is noted for its vintage character and distinctive features, although it has limited coverage in modern collections.