C. P. Stirn in 1886 bought the rights to a single type of vest pocket camera that was invented by Robert D. Gray and first produced by Western Electric Co. in New York. Rudolf Stirn lived in the German capital, Berlin, where he made chambers vest for his brother C.P. Stirn. From 1886-1888 15,000 copies of his hidden camera vest sold. The camera had to be loaded with a round plate or film of 14 cm 17 cm in diameter. Round brass body with exposure dial (with or without hand clock) and the body of the funnel-like lens gave a unique look. two main types, one to four round exhibitions 6 cm wide on a plate round film 17 cm in diameter, and the other with a funnel lens smaller, for six round exposures 4 cm wide were manufactured on a round plate of 14 cm in diameter. This type of camera not only fits in the pocket of a vest, but it can be hidden so that the narrow opening of the lens is visible through the buttonhole of his waistcoat pocket. Thus, the camera got its popular name" camera eye" but also detective camera, spy camera and finally, vest pocket camera. The cameras were sold in the United States and Canada by Stirn & Lyon in New York.
