If you haven't guessed it yet, the film exposure window in the back door tells the tale. Unfortunately, the Bantam Special is NOT a 35mm camera. It was made for 828 film -- a paper backed cousin of 35mm. The film gate size is a slightly larger than 35, at 28x40mm. Yep, 828 film is loooong gone, though it can be ordered specially (and expensively). Without film, this little beauty is mostly a shelf sitter, a monument to days and styles gone bye. Damn it's a beautiful camera, perfect for a Raymond Chandler novel.
I was told several years ago about a Japanese conversion of Bantam Specials to 35mm. If you happen to have the details of the conversion, please let me know.