PAM
Est. 1946
PAM
PAM was the trade identity of Photographic Arts Manufacturing, a New York photography-equipment company formed in 1946 and renamed Starr Corporation in 1951. Its best-known product is the PAM Britar 105mm f/4.5, a lightweight American telephoto lens made for Leica screw-mount rangefinder cameras. The Britar gives PAM a small but distinctive place in the history of United States optical manufacturing and third-party LTM lenses.
History
Founding / Early Years
Photographic Arts Manufacturing was established in New York in 1946, during the rapid postwar expansion of the American camera market. Published information about its founders and facilities is limited. The company appears to have concentrated on a narrow product program rather than attempting to build a complete camera and lens system.
Market Entry
PAM introduced the Britar 105mm f/4.5 around 1950. It was designed as a compact telephoto option for 35mm Leica-thread rangefinder cameras. Period and surviving examples show an aluminum-alloy barrel, rangefinder coupling, and a relatively simple three-element optical design. The lens is sometimes displayed with the American-made Kardon camera because both are uncommon United States products in Leica screw mount, but available evidence does not establish that the Britar was created exclusively for the Kardon.
Expansion / Modern Period
The company adopted the Starr Corporation name in 1951. No extensive later PAM lens catalogue or sustained modern camera business is documented. The Britar appears to have been produced in a short run, and the PAM identity now survives primarily through collectible examples, period advertisements, and specialist photography writing.
Product Lines
LTM Telephoto Lenses
The Britar 105mm f/4.5 is the principal verified PAM lens. It was supplied with a dedicated hood and uses Leica M39 screw mount.
Technical Characteristics
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Company identity | Photographic Arts Manufacturing, later Starr Corporation |
| Reference lens | Britar 105mm f/4.5 |
| Lens mount | Leica M39 screw mount, LTM or LSM |
| Optical construction | Three elements |
| Diaphragm | Thirteen blades on documented examples |
| Coating | Single-coated optical surfaces |
| M-mount use | Adaptable with an LTM-to-M adapter |
Market Reception
The PAM Britar is a niche collectible rather than a widely adopted professional lens. It is valued for its uncommon American origin, light construction, long-focus perspective, and compatibility with Leica screw-mount rangefinder cameras. Modern assessments often emphasize its classic triplet rendering and mechanical individuality, while also noting that age, haze, rangefinder calibration, and sample condition can strongly affect performance.
Sources
Lenses (0)
No results found