Technological Artifacts Collection from the Cold War

Tradecraft Artifacts

Concealment devices

Table lighter

This table cigarette lighter (a very common household item in the 1950s and 60s) is hollowed out to conceal and transport an ultra-miniature camera, detachable lens, film disks and film canister. The lighter was smuggled into Canada by a landed immigrant who was recruited as an agent during an overseas visit. The camera was designed and used for photographing documents. Because the camera has no viewfinder, the user would adjust the lens' focal length, shine a desk lamp on the page and shoot. The small size of the film would permit the developed negatives to be easily hidden and/or mailed by the agent.

This table lighter containing a miniature camera was conceived to photograph documents.

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