The Startech was a specialised version of the Brownie Starflash supplied with two close-up lenses, red marked for 4-8 inches and green marked for 10-16 inches. There were four kits available:

Kodak Startech Outfit with camera, 2 lenses, 12 flash bulbs, 1 roll colour slide film and 3 batteries.  Price $34.75

Medical Kit, with camera, 2 lenses, 2 rolls colour film, 24 flashbulbs, large carrying case, 4 inch deluxe frame, 10 inch deluxe frame and 2 batteries. Price $55.75

Dental Kit, as Medical Kit plus 1 pair dental retractors molded and a dental photographic mirror. Price $63.85

Police Kit, as Medical Kit plus camera, a copy attachment, accessory lens, 12 M5 flashbulbs, 1 roll Verichrome Pan Film, 1 to 1 lens system. Price $93.65

A wide range of accessories included:

Electronic Flash Attachment.   This was a mains power transformer which fed a “Speedlight” – a lamp which fitted the flash bulb socket of the camera and covered by a flash shield. Bulky and expensive at $66. 

Slide X Desk Viewer.  A rear projector for 2×2 slides giving a 7×7 inch picture, costing $75 plus $3 for a clip on clear plastic front screen for lecturer notes.

Twin Projector Theatre.  A 6”x 12” front screen allowed two 6”x 6” images to be shown side by side.  Two eyepieces were fitted and it was also possible to throw the images on to a larger screen.  Price $70.

Other accessories included 8” and 13” deluxe frames, Medical and Dental identification frames, insect frame, lens with ruler and associated large flashbulbs,  a side light attachment and a reducer to cut down light for flower photography, two sizes of X-ray copier, mounts for 4 and 6 slides or X-ray and regular and full and infant mouth dental X-ray mounts.

The Brownie Startech Outfit shown here was made in 1959, and was acquired from a friend’s stall at Bievres, France.

Kodak licensed the production of the whole Startech range to Lester A. Dine Inc of  New York.  Kodak supplied the cameras and Lester A. Dine Inc procured the other components and marketed the products.

The Kodak Dental Outfit in our collection was made in 1961. To match the two supplied close up lenses (red marked 4-8 inches and green marked 10-16 inches), it featured frames to match with the far end being clipped around the flash reflector. 

The spacer and frames made of rather flimsy wire, were rested against the face of the dental patient giving a precise focus and it was claimed, extremely clear photographs as a result.

The crisp focus at such short range could be achieved because the camera had a diaphragm stop of f64.  This “pin hole” opening was claimed to be the only one on the market at that time.

Lester A Dine Inc, now based in Florida, continue to provide a range of cameras adapted for close up and specialist photography.  Readers might be surprised to discover they invented the Ring Flash, widely still used today. For further interest, the link below is to an interesting article on their site written by Matthew Glasgold about the history of dental photography.

https://dinecorp.com/the-history-of-dental-photography/

(post author – Julian Jackson)