Artifact: The CIA “Matchbox” Camera

In World War II, the Office of Strategic Services (OSS), the predecessor of the CIA, needed spy tools. Say you were behind enemy lines and needed to photograph targets or some kinds of propaganda. To maintain your cover, would you choose a Leica, or a matchbox?

Eastman Kodak developed a camera that used 16mm film in the shape of a matchbox. It was plain, so the agent would need to glue on a label from a brand of matchbox that was common in whatever county. The camera was rugged, and could be operated by feel because there were few user-adjustable settings.

Matchbox camera artifact from the CIA Museum website.