Wholesale c. 1948 General Electric Type PR-1 Exposure Meter

The Piece A vintage General Electric Type PR-1 photographic exposure meter, dating to approximately c. late 1940s–early 1950s, with a black case, silver calculator dial, red GE logo, and original-style neck strap. The back plate is clearly marked: • General Electric Exposure Meter • Type PR-1 • For Film or Plates • Use American Standard Exposure Index Numbers • Serial No. L20817 • U.S. Pat. 2296670 • N.P. 126766 • Made in U.S.A. This was a handheld analog light meter used by photographers to calculate exposure before built-in camera metering became standard. It allowed the user to measure available light and determine usable combinations of shutter speed, aperture, and film speed. Basically, it did the thinking your camera now does automatically, because apparently photographers once had to understand math and light like responsible adults. Historical Context The GE PR-1 exposure meter was part of the mid-century era of handheld photographic meters, when photographers relied on separate light-reading tools to properly expose film, sheet film, and photographic plates. The wording “for film or plates” is especially interesting, as it connects the meter to a transitional photography period when roll film was common, but plate and sheet-based photographic methods were still relevant in certain applications. The dial includes f-stop markings, exposure index numbers, shut