What age group would play with this toy?

[Packard]

This is a prototype of a toy I might produce as a giveaway.

The body is poplar and measures 4” x 2-1/2”.  The body plus the lens is 1-1/2” deep.  I did not measure the shutter release, but about 3/16” high.  The finish is a non-toxic beeswax finish. 

The process was simple.  I cut the blocks to size. 

Using a shop made sled for my router table, I radiused the corners.

Then using a 1/2” forstner bit, I drilled the viewfinder.

I don’t have a lathe, so I cut the lenses with a hole saw.

I then, using the router table again, radiused all the edges of the body, and one side of the lens.

I drilled a 3/16” hole for the shutter button (a mushroom hole cap).

I sanded all the parts and then glued the lens and shutter button.

Finally,  I added the wax finish.

I have no idea what age group would play with this though.

 

[Sparktrician]

I'm guessing that it might be old guys in their 70s...  [big grin]

 

[rmwarren]

I'm guessing that it might be old guys in their 70s...  [big grin]

Beat me to it...  [popcorn]

RMW

 

[ChuckM]

Camera collectors.

 

[Holzhacker]

Yeah, that might be a tough sell.
Might be better if you worked it out so it had a nightlight in it or a spy camera or something.
I use cameras daily and even have a Canon basically that size and shape. Kids though, not so much.

 

[rhoyer]

Sadly, younger kids recognize will recognize a cellphone as the thing that takes pictures before an SLR or point and shoot.

 

[Koamolly]

Wouldn’t photos be pretty grainy?

 

[Crazyraceguy]

Wouldn’t photos be pretty grainy?

That is down-right fantastic right there!  [big grin]

 

[Packard]

Just when I thought that film was totally dead, I’ve read that some forensics labs have switched back to film. 

It seems that an expert convinced a jury that the digital image might have been faked, and the bad guy got off.  So in some jurisdictions, film is back.

Also, I see old Nikon F cameras for sale ranging from about $800.00 to $2,900.00 without the Photomic head (just the plain pentaprism).  I still have two of them (circa 1965), but not in “as new” that would bring the 2,900.00 price.  I paid $364.00 back in 1965 for mine.  It took most of a year to save for it. 

I guess it is like vinyl for music.  Film has a gradation that digital cannot dupilicate. 

 

[Packard]

This one is suggested for ages “3 +”.  No sizes called out.  Maple and walnut construction. 

I like mine better, but the maple and walnut sound appealing.  Plus, mine clearly takes film, note the Tri-X shown in the photo.  And this one probably is one of those Johnny-come-lately digital cameras.

I will probably call out ages three and older.

 

[ChuckM]

Would it help if the wooden camera was in the shape of a cellphone? We know Gen Alpha (and soon Gen Beta) will only play with their digital devices (mostly cellphones) for a substantial (read: excessive) amount of time. [wink]

 

[Ron B]

Over 40 years ago we bought our daughter a Fisher Price cash register and shopping cart filled with plastic fruits and vegetables.  I was playing store with her acting like I was a customer and she was the clerk.  She started scanning the items instead of hitting the keys on the cash register.  That made me realize how quickly things change from one generation to another. 

I think a kid would think pictures are taken by phones, not a camera.  It is a cute idea for those that know what it is, but I do not think the customer base would.  Ever see those videos of teenagers trying to figure out how to use a dial-up phone? 

As a teenager on the farm over 50 years ago, I asked my Dad how the single and double trees worked hanging on the barn wall.  His remark to me was "what, you don't know how to hitch up a team of horses?? I could do that blindfolded."  I told him we farmed with tractors, not horses but that made me realize how much is lost from one generation to the next. 

 

[ChuckM]

Snip.
I think a kid would think pictures are taken by phones, not a camera.  Snip.

But this item is now pretty hot among some Millennials and some older Gen Z:
https://www.pcmag.com/picks/the-best-instant-cameras

 

[mino]

...
Ever see those videos of teenagers trying to figure out how to use a dial-up phone? 
...

I like the ending of that clip actually .. if this is not for sale, there is no issue giving something to kids they will not recognize .. that is how they learn after all. Besides, professional cameras are still in use.

Maybe adjusting to a shape more close to a modern DSLR, with biggie optics as a separable (turned?) piece ?

As for the age group - for small kids you just want things big enough they cannot eat. As for development, I would say 2-5 should be fine. With the younger kid getting more fun out of the toy while the older one having it more of an accessory for play with others ..

 

[PaulMarcel]

Over 40 years ago we bought our daughter a Fisher Price cash register and shopping cart filled with plastic fruits and vegetables.  I was playing store with her acting like I was a customer and she was the clerk.  She started scanning the items instead of hitting the keys on the cash register.  That made me realize how quickly things change from one generation to another.

I remember that as a kid; neighbor had 2 registers.

I'm actually surprised she didn't just guide you to the register to self-check yourself haha!

 

[Cheese]

I'm guessing that it might be old guys in their 70s...  [big grin]

Sparky... [member=7493]Sparktrician[/member]  now that's flipping hilarious.  [thumbs up]  Count me in... [big grin]

As an aside, if you paint the button red you may be able to capture some of the younger folk...think Leica. [smile]

 

[Sparktrician]

As an aside, if you paint the button red you may be able to capture some of the younger folk...think Leica. [smile]

[member=44099]Cheese[/member], that's the PHD button (as in, Press Here, Dummy.)  [big grin]

 

[Crazyraceguy]

I'm guessing that it might be old guys in their 70s...  [big grin]

Wow, I'm only 60, and I get it.  [unsure]

For a really young child, I would say yes, the only thing they would recognize as a camera is a smart phone. Older kids/teens are still are of actual cameras DSLRs at least. A lot of the higher-end YouTubers use them, rather than just phones.
Film cameras have gone the way of rotary-dial phones.

When I was younger, there was no such thing as a bar-code on grocery products, so nothing to scan. Cashiers had to enter prices by hand on the keys of the register. The price wasn't printed on the shelves back then either, it was literally right on the product itself. Also, when the price changed, it didn't change for everything, it was only the new stock. The stock-boys would pull the older stuff to the front and stock the new behind them. The point, as far as the store was concerned, was to get rid of the older ones first. From the customer's standpoint, the older ones are also cheaper. Of course, back then, the prices only changed by a few cents.

 

[cpw]

Over 40 years ago we bought our daughter a Fisher Price cash register and shopping cart filled with plastic fruits and vegetables.  I was playing store with her acting like I was a customer and she was the clerk.  She started scanning the items instead of hitting the keys on the cash register.  That made me realize how quickly things change from one generation to another.

I remember that as a kid; neighbor had 2 registers.

I'm actually surprised she didn't just guide you to the register to self-check yourself haha!

When my kids were young playing with a cash register, 12-14 years ago I remember being struck that they had a play card in addition to play money.  But it makes sense, I don't think my kids have ever seen me pay cash for groceries.  Now that they're old enough to drive and do some of our shopping for us, the use their phone with Apple pay that we can reload for them.

 

[Crazyraceguy]

When my kids were young playing with a cash register, 12-14 years ago I remember being struck that they had a play card in addition to play money.  But it makes sense, I don't think my kids have ever seen me pay cash for groceries.  Now that they're old enough to drive and do some of our shopping for us, the use their phone with Apple pay that we can reload for them.

Just a few weeks ago, I saw a lady write a check for groceries!  [eek] I haven't seen that for years..... probably at least 20. When I was a kid, that was common, since you could not use credit cards for groceries, and debit cards weren't a thing yet. Cash or checks only. They used to ask for your ID and then wrote your SS# on the check. Then came hat machine that could read the check and verify it with the bank, right on the spot. Those didn't last long though, checks kind of disappeared, as debit cards gained traction.
It hasn't been that long that SS# were still on your ID.
The crazy thing is that when the did pass whatever law it took to remove them, it did not apply to CDL drivers. I took several years before it came to them too.