Hasselblad 500C 'The System' With Astronaut

The System

In 1841, Fritz Wiktor Hasselblad established his namesake trading company in Gothenburg, Sweden. When a fledgling interest in the then-nascent photography industry inspired him to begin a photographic division, he surely could never have envisioned that his cameras would one day be used to photograph the first men walking on the Moon. In fact this advertisement, produced in 1966, might not have been able to predict such a feat, either.

"'The System'" takes the great ones. That's why the great ones take 'The System.' This bit of Madison Avenue-level copy lets you know that you're looking at Hasselblad's customizable medium-format camera system with waist-level viewfinder — the type that "has accompanied every astronaut since '62." When Buzz Aldrin and Neil Armstrong took the "One giant leap for Mankind" in 1969, it sealed Hasselblad as the preeminent medium-format photographic system in the eyes of the world — a place it still occupies today.

This ad is custom framed in a 11 3/8” x 12 3/4” solid wood frame with a black painted finish. It features a custom-measured, hand-cut 4-ply matte in cream, complimenting all the ad tones. Every material used is acid-free and the glass is anti-reflective and offers UV-protection to keep this precious ad preserved no matter where you decide to hang it up. Speaking of which, hanging your newly purchased ad is a seamless task, as this particular frame comes with an additional hanging wire and felt pads for wall protection.

Beautifully designed and laid out, this black and white advertisement will melt seamlessly into the background of any room or space in which you care to hang it. Once you examine it more carefully and read the copy, however, you'll recall that you're looking at the camera that documented one of mankind's most important feats. 

About our collaboration with Ad Patina

We're thrilled to be collaborating once again with our longtime friend Nick at Ad Patina to bring you a selection of the most-popular and hard to find original vintage magazine advertisements curated specifically for Analog:Shift!

Scouring the world for forgotten marketing treasures, Ad Patina's raison de être very much mimics our own - to hunt down these wonderful bits of history, preserve and restore them as needed, and share them with an enthusiastic community.

These documents of horological and advertising history have entered the collecting conversation as the ultimate accompanying accessory to go along with hobbies and passions. They have found themselves framed in homes and offices around the world.

Every one of these wonderful pieces is a genuine, vintage advertisement that has been professionally framed to ensure years of enjoyment to come - no reprints or reproductions here!

Much like a traditional piece of art - a painting or photograph - an original advertisement can be appreciated for its design as well as for its power to evoke nostalgia. Something vintage enthusiasts know all about!

Our Pledge

Analog:Shift stands behind the authenticity of our products in perpetuity.

Condition

Since our pieces are vintage or pre-owned, please expect wear & patina from usage and age. Please read each item description and examine all product images.

Warranty

We back each Analog:Shift vintage timepiece with a one-year mechanical warranty from the date of purchase.

International Buyers

Please contact us prior to purchase for additional details on shipping and payment options.

All of our watches include complementary insured shipping within the 50 states.

Most of our products are on hand and will ship directly from our headquarters in New York City. In some cases, watches will be shipped directly from one of our authorized partners.

We generally ship our products via FedEx, fully insured, within 5 business days of purchase. An adult signature is required for receipt of all packages for insurance purposes. Expedited shipping is available at an additional cost. We are also happy to hand deliver your purchase in Manhattan or you may pick it up at our showroom.

Returns must be sent overnight or by priority international delivery, fully insured and paid for by the customer. A restocking fee may apply. Watches must be returned in the same condition as initially shipped.

We welcome international buyers, please contact us prior to purchase for additional details on shipping and payment options.