KEH Trading Phone Cards

Included in our behind the scenes section, I've decided to add some "blasts from the pasts" since KEH has been around since the late 70's...

I recently stumbled on a box of KEH "trading" phone cards. Come to find out, back in the mid 1990's we created these "Collectors Series" phone cards to give to customers so that they could call us and place orders since we apparently had no free 1-800 number at the time. Six different cards were created including: The Rangefinder Collection: Leica IIIF, Contemporary Classics: Nikon F, The Subminiature Collection: Hit 16mm Subminiature, The Nostalgic Collection: Kodak Brownie Holiday Camera with Flash, The Antiques Collection: Rochester Optical Tele-Photo Cycle-Poco B, Exceptionally Rare: Zeiss Nettel Tropen.

In the Premier Issue (1996) of "The Classics Collection" catalog, we also offered them to customers to use how they like in exchange for feedback. There was a form included in the catalog where you could choose which card you wanted.

On the back of the cards, there is: a sentence about each camera featured. The phone card info. (obviously), and "This phone card was printed in a limited edition run of only 2,000." wow.


Interested in the trivia info. on the back? OK!

- Built with the famed craftsmanship and attention to detail of Leica rangefinder cameras, the IIIF was the first Leica to include built-in flash sync.
- Built to withstand demanding use and backed by a full system of accessories, the Nikon F quickly became the favorite of photojournalists and is still widely used today.
- The classic of subminiature cameras, the Hit was usually ordered from ads on the back of comic books and was for many collectors their first camera.
- Marketed extensively for vacationing families, the classic styling from the 1950's makes this Kodak Brownie Holiday camera an attractive addition to any collection.
- Designed in the 1930's for use in the tropical jungle, the Zeiss Nettel Tropen is beautifully crafted from polished teak.
- African mahogany, Moroccan leather and ivory name plates show the quality and elegance of this turn-of-the-century jewel.

So now I'm wondering, does anyone still have one of these?