Wallace Heaton was a
photographic
Photography is the art, application, and practice of creating durable images by recording light, either electronically by means of an image sensor, or chemically by means of a light-sensitive material such as photographic film. It is employed ...
retailer based in
London
London is the capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary dow ...
and was trading independently from 1917 until 1972 when it was bought by
Dixons. The company was originally set up by a Wallace Heaton, a pharmacist who opened his shop in
New Bond Street
Bond Street in the West End of London links Piccadilly in the south to Oxford Street in the north. Since the 18th century the street has housed many prestigious and upmarket fashion retailers. The southern section is Old Bond Street and the ...
; over time he moved his business from pharmacy to photography and photographic supplies.
History
Wallace Heaton supplied the British Royal family with all their cameras and until it closed, one of the Dixons stores in New Bond Street still retained the Wallace Heaton name and the Royal.Warrant.
Wallace Heaton produced various ranges of 'own name' products. Besides the Wallace Heaton brand, it also used the brand names of 'Zodel' and 'Harmony', generally attached to imported products.
Wallace Heaton published a small paperback annual, known to all as the ''Blue Book'', and named after the colour of its cover. This was an in-house catalogue and price list published from 1949 to 1972. The company listed practically all still and cine cameras and their accessories as well as projectors, enlargers, flash-guns, lenses and other accessories.
The company also held a very significant film library used by film professionals and researchers from across the world.
References
{{reflist
External links
Obituary for Theo FabergeSvenStudios Wedding Photographers
Shops in London
Photographic retailers
Defunct retail companies of the United Kingdom
Photography companies of the United Kingdom