So this past Friday I went to visit my parents who had just moved into their new place. All of their big stuff was already in, so mostly I just went for moral support and to help them unpack.
You know how I can get all discombobulated when my house is all womperjawed?? Well let’s just say that I come by that naturally…
So anyway, I was unpacking some kitchen boxes and putting away knicknacks when I came across this curious looking thing.
My dad happened to be standing right there and I said, “Hey Daddy….what is this??” To which he replied, “It’s my mom’s camera.”
And then he went on to tell me how he remembered his mom taking his picture with it as a little boy. Then he opened it up and showed me how it worked. How you look through the top and wind the film with the little winder thingy (technical term) on the side. Then a little later he drug out a big box full of old pictures of Grandma’s, many of which were taken with that camera.
It was the neatest thing.
On my home from my parents, I was thinking about this camera and my grandmother. And then I remembered that it would have been her birthday. And then something inside started feel warm and fuzzy.
Well so since then I’ve done a little on-line research…I believe this camera is called ANSCO Goodwin box camera. 
I also brought home a couple of pictures of my dad as a little boy that Grandma took with it.
Daddy would like for me to tell you that when he dressed up as a cowboy, he was either Roy Rogers, Gene Autry, or Hopalong Cassidy. 
My grandmother passed away such a long time ago…almost 20 years in fact. But I can still remember the way she used to say ‘walmarts’ and how she always kept her water cup on the kitchen ‘zink’. And how she always made boiled hot dogs for lunch. And the little row of tea cups that she kept on the top of her china cabinet.
I love having this camera as a reminder of Grandma. I love the thought that she liked taking pictures of my dad…her only child. Something I can totally relate to. And I love the warm fuzzy feeling I got from remembering her… I loved her so much.
Photography is so cool that way.
Love, Kelly
My Dad had one just like that! So wish I had it, but my guess is that it was thrown away or donated 20 years ago. What a great memory for you. Things like this remind me of why we need to print some of our photos. They’d ghat be preserved in electronic form, but nobody is going to stumble upon a photo of us or our kids looking through volumes of hard drives when there is a move.
Hate auto spell check! Ghat = might
Oh my gosh, Kelly. – I wrote almost the same post today! I started writing about my fathers influence on my photography and was going to show you the old cameras he gave me, but I got sidetracked and ended up writing on FOL about my grandmother going to art school and that became what women were allowed to do. So far from where I started! But that is what I like about writing -sometimes the story tells itself. Expect to see my Dads camera up sometime soon I. Another post! Meanwhile ….. Isn’t it soooo cool to have these old cameras and memories?.
I love that you have the camera and the memories to go with it!! I can also see that you come by photography naturally!! Wow what a treasure!!
Amazing story! What a treasure you have! Made me travel a little down memory lane. I don’t remember my grandparents with a camera and rarely did my parents take pictures. Mom took pictures of us at Easter, birthdays, and Christmas and that was it. We didn’t have the extra money. The one who influenced my photography was my uncle. Secretly I would love to have one of his cameras! I have lots of slides that he took of us. My son is taking those slides and putting them on a hard drive for me. I can’t wait to see them all!
P.S. Love your springy header! I need to get the Valentine’s off mine!!
With all the hub bub of moving and boxes everywhere I totally forgot it was Grandma’s birthday. How appropriate you found the camera, it could not have been a coincidence, she was likely watching from heavenly places and smiling on the whole thing. Thank you Kelly, for all you do, for all you are, for the absolute best daughter any parent could have. Love you……..