Model 20: ("Swinger")
Produced: 1965-1970 / Original Retail: $19.95
Estimated Production: A Whole Bunch (Pattern Not Completely Determined)
- Lens: Meniscus (single element, plastic)
- Shutter: Single speed rotary, everset, 1/200 second
- Flash: built-in flashgun for AG-1 bulbs
- Exposure setting assisted via built-in photometer
- Fixed focus
- Rigid white plastic body
NOTES: Earlier production models have both "YES" and "NO" indications in the finder. Later ones have a plain checkerboard 'reference' screen on the photometer, thus indicating proper exposure with only the "YES" message. Also, some Swingers have a white back latch, while others have a black latch. Not sure if there is any correspondence between these two distinctions, but it appears that the white latch is usually an indication that the camera has the YES-only photometer. Incidently, the Swinger (and its later relatives in the Polaroid family, such as the Big Swinger and the Zip) is one of the very few mass-market cameras ever produced by anyone which has this type of exposure metering aid. At some point, I might put together a brief article about how the Swinger photometer works, as it's actually rather clever in its own little way.
Most Swingers were made in the U.K. by (apparently) General Time (i.e. Timex) for Polaroid Corporation, but earlier ones (and in particular some (most?) "YES/NO" models) were made in the USA. [Note: Does anyone know for sure about General Time being the manufaturer of this and other "Made in U.K." Polaroid cameras..? If so, was this under contract, or did Polaroid eventually buy the plant from General Time?]
COLLECTOR'S NOTE: Probably the most common/plentiful camera of any kind ever made (and therefore basically worthless in today's market). Literally millions were sold. This camera was very inexpensive compared with all other previous Polaroid cameras, and introduced a lot of young people to instant photography. [...and the heavy advertising towards the youth market didn't hurt either.]
Source: http://www.landlist.ch/landlist/landdcam-roll.htm#20