Ensign Midget 55

Whatever way you look at it, Houghton-Butchers Ensign Midget was quite an unusual and interesting design. There was nothing quite like it on the market. It was toy like, but in reality it was a functional proper camera capable of first class results.

The Ensign Midget

It has an interesting history which we will have a quick look into. First produced in 1934, the design looks at least a decade older, in a way it is and more so. The design registration was first applied for in 1917, by a Swedish designer by the name of Magnus Niell. It received its British Patent, Patent number 117,399 in July 1918, put was not produced until 1934! Seventeen years after it was designed! It just shows how unique and advanced this camera design was, for a camera design to sit there for seventeen years before being put into production, then being produced until 1941and only stopped because production facilities were needed for war work is quite incredible.

Ensign Midget

If you think that the design reminds you of Houghtons Ensignette designed in 1907 and produced from 1909, then you are working along the right lines, as the Ensignette was designed by the same Swedish designer Magnus Niell! The struts give it away. I wonder why Houghtons waited so long to put it into production? Whatever the reason, the Midget ended up being a big seller for Houghtons. Some sources say that film for the Midget was still being made in the early 1970's over thirty years after the camera stopped being produced.

Lets have a look and see what the 1939 Ensign catalogue has to say about it.

The version I have sat in front of me today is the M/55 version with its three speed shutter and Ensign Ensar f6.3 anastigmat lens which could be moved for focusing. Lets take a closer look.

The shutter has three speeds, or five if you count T and B, 25th, 50th and 100th of a second, amazingly all still work! Focus is from 3 feet to infinity with 3ft, 5ft,8ft, 12ft and INF all clearly marked in red enamel.

Apertures could be easily selected above the lens with 6.3, 8, 11, 16, and f22 all being available. Quite comprehensive really.

Rear View of the Ensign Midget

The little Midget had two types of viewfinder, the foldable bright reflex type swung out from behind the front lens panel and the direct vision frame finder was in two parts, the front folded up and out and the back part swung out and up, both folding away again neatly when needed.

There is also a little leg that folds out so you can stand the camera up in the portrait orientation when needed, the reflex viewfinder swings into position, though I have forgotten to do it in the picture above.

Behind this little leg is the body number! Just in case you were trying to find it! On this example the body number is H 2704. The shutter release is next to it.

To open the back you just slide the catch in the direction of the arrow and....

...the back comes off easily.

The inside of the camera back with unusual red window and pressure plate. R100 is written in a few places in pencil on this camera, not sure what it signifies.

There is no mistaking which film to use with this bright red sticker. Ensign Lukos E.10 film of course!

I like it when a firm proudly stamp their name on a camera, it means they are proud of it.

The metal E 10 film spools are tiny. The images are small at 1//4 x 15/8, it takes 6 images per film. The width of the film is 35mm!

You can see the pencil figures again, this time 100R rather than R100. The bellows have seen better days, they had been patched 40 years ago when I bought the Midget, the repairs are now starting to lift and let in light, I'm guessing the repairs are older than me, so I'm just going to repair the repairs, as to my mind they are part of the cameras history.

Folded up, the Midget takes up very little room. It's size closed up is 90 x 45x18mm !

It weighs in at just 155g

And fits in a really nicely made leather case! Now this is a proper compact camera and no horrible plastic anywhere. 1917, this amazing concept was designed in 1917. Magnus Niell was a true genius.

I hoped you liked this quick look at Houghtons Ensign Midget, it really was a landmark camera. Way ahead of its time.

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Lots more stuff to come in the near future, posts on Agfa, more Ensign stuff and some more old cameras to try out with film, so subscribe and keep posted.

Why did Houghons wait from 1917 to 1934 before going into production? If you know, then please tell me in the comments section below.

Take care,

Phil