You can feel Ben’s passion for cameras the moment you step through the door. He leads me into a back room, where a colleague carefully holds up a small object. Without hesitation, Ben pulls out a magnifying loupe, inspects it, and immediately identifies the piece.
Ben takes genuine pleasure in showcasing some of the truly fascinating artefacts on display at this new collector’s haven tucked away on the high street.
He gestures towards a large, imposing camera.
“There were only three of these made — and this is the first one. It was made to film the Queen on the balcony of Buckingham Palace in 1953. This had a special purpose-built telephoto lens.”
Later, he points out a tiny, cleverly disguised camera tucked inside a makeup compact—one of many hidden gems in his growing collection.
Ben lives in North Cheam and is of Northern Albanian descent. Alongside his brother, he spent years working as a kitchen fitter, gradually amassing a collection that would make any enthusiast envious.
There’s even a camera museum and café in North London, but Ben isn’t too concerned about the competition.
“He’s got toys compared to us,” he shrugs. “He’s a baby. We’re on completely different levels. He sells all his stuff—we keep ours on display.”
Big plans are in motion for the Carshalton space. To help cover costs, the back area will soon be opened as a paid-entry members-only museum. While there are still a few planning hurdles to clear, the goal is to open it in the near future.
The oldest item on display dates back to the 1860s. Ben can’t say exactly how many different brands are represented in the collection—just that there are hundreds.
“My favourite camera? The Ilford Witness from 1946. Only 250 were ever made.”
This is a high-end destination for serious collectors and camera lovers alike—and it’ll be fascinating to see how it develops (no pun intended).
All photos and content by Secret Carshalton
