Machine Model
Auto-Photo
by Auto-Photo Company
0 booths
1926 - 1990s
About Auto-Photo
Auto-Photo was a pioneering American photo booth manufacturer that helped popularize automatic photography in the United States. Their machines were fixtures in American arcades, department stores, and transportation hubs throughout the 20th century.
History
The Auto-Photo Company was founded in New York in 1926, during the early days of automated photography. The company quickly became one of the leading photo booth manufacturers in the United States.
Auto-Photo machines became iconic fixtures of American culture, appearing in countless films and photographs. They were particularly popular at Woolworths stores, bus stations, and amusement parks.
The company faced challenges in the 1990s as digital photography began to dominate, and production eventually ceased. Today, vintage Auto-Photo machines are highly sought after by collectors and are occasionally found in museums and specialty venues.
Typical Features
- *Art Deco styling (earlier models)
- *Distinctive American design
- *Traditional chemical processing
- *Mechanical coin mechanism
- *Classic curtain or partial enclosure
- *Period-appropriate signage
Fun Facts
- -Auto-Photo machines appeared in the opening credits of the TV show "Happy Days"
- -The company produced special machines for military bases during World War II
- -An Auto-Photo strip was famously used as a plot device in the film "Amelie"
Collector Notes
Auto-Photo machines are rare finds outside of the United States. Art Deco era machines (1930s-1940s) are the most valuable. Working chemical processors are extremely rare and valuable.