An odd set of filter-threaded lenses for a 1979-ish Minolta Hi-Matic AF. Wide-Angle and Telephoto, but meant for a camera with a tiny lens in the center, so they will probably have bad edge vignetting and should result in some very interesting photos. I had to try them out for $5. A step-down adapter to fit them on my main lenses is $7 at Adorama.
Thunderbird I and Thunderbird II, 1968 Montgomery Wards Signature 440T’s (Brother JP-1’s)
My other 1968 Monkey Ward 440T
The 1968 Monkey Wards catalog that shows these 440Ts
A Review of the Minolta Hi-Matic AF
Adorama Step-down adapter, 52mm-46mm
Interesting Note: If you compare this machine’s serial number to the other 440T, you’ll see that “Thunderbird I” (A8823345) rolled off the line in January 1968, and 37,088 machines and one month later, this one rolled off the line in February of 1968 (B8860433). That’s at least 37,000 machines in a month that Brother churned out in 1968. That’s almost half a million machines a year.
Awesome! I’d be lucky to even find an empty typewriter case in a thrift store. God must be testing me. ) :
Nice-looking Brother — I have never run into that model with the distinctive case. And good sleuthing/speculation on “Carley.”
Justification? You are supporting a good cause. And at $10… what sane person could resist? Despite at one time setting my sights on a string of SM4s – whatever their colour – I haven’t yet managed to duplicate a single typewriter. The only exception being 3 Good Companion 5s; one broken, one given away and one hung onto. Oh, and 3 Corona 4s, but they don’t count because they are so pretty.
Oddly, I do have another Twinner – our Hermes 3000’s – which are identical except for typeface, and something like 600 apart in serial number series. Our 2 H3k’s were likely built within a day or two of each other in 1964, and came together despite being found in two different states. (one bought locally, one on Ebay)
These two 440T’s at least were probably both shipped new to the same Montgomery Wards store here in town, bought and used locally, and then 40-some years later dropped off at different thrift stores within months of each other by their previous owners. :D