Kodak Retina 1b camera : Leading Patrolman Brien Towler, RAN

Kodak Retina 1b camera. The camera has a folding body design with Schneider-Kreuznach Retina-Xenar 50mm f/2.8 noninterchangeable lens and Synchro Compur shutter. The camera takes 35mm film, and the film advance lever is located at the bottom of the body.

Associated with the service of 55663 Brien Ellis Towler, born 19 December 1936. This camera was a gift for Towler’s 21st birthday and was used extensively during his service in the Royal Australian Navy between 1959 and 1968. In May 1966 General Westmoreland made a visit to HMAS Sydney where Leading Patrolman Towler was responsible for keeping the flight deck clear of unauthorised sailors. He used the opportunity to take some black and white photographs of the occasion with this camera.