Black Kodak Medalist II

Dan Daniel

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Finally wrapped up a Medalist II that I had painted with Cerakote black. And then added a Griptac skin.

The person it is going to is a rock climber, so I made the shutter and aperture markings bright so that he could see them easily. I would probably tone them done for most cases.

Not happy with the Cerakoting work itself (see camera repair forum for some more comments) but from a distance, I like the look!
 

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Donald Qualls

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Wow. Looks good from over here.

I'm a little surprised a rock climber wants a tank like that to haul up a pitch, rather than a much lighter folding camera like a Super Ikonta C or Moskva 5 -- yes, probably sturdier, but if you drop it thirty feet or so, it won't matter how sturdy it was. Not to mention the annoyance factor of 620 or the cost of the 120 conversion...
 

MattKing

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I wouldn't want to be below a rock climber carrying a Medalist if there is even a chance that the strap might give way!
Great looking camera Dan.
 

John Wiegerink

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Dan,
That's a great job and a lot of tedious work. Reminds me of the military version (Signal Corps) of the Kodak Signet 35 only on steroids. I have the same "grip" covering on my Medalist II, and it makes is so much easier to hold and control. I have one of my handgun done with Cerakote, and it holds up extremely well. I don't know how it would hold up to a 600 foot fall, but I don't think any finish will make a camera ding-proof anyway.
 

AnselMortensen

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Very nice!
That camera looks very elegant in black, what with it's Art Deco/Steampunk styling.
Not a camera I'd want to haul up a mountain, but they are sturdy cameras, and the Ektar lenses are no slouch.
I had one briefly...The G.A.S wore off and I sold it.
 

JPD

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Good choice of paint, and it looks very nice. The paint-filled engravings look like it was done at the factory.
 

guangong

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A very artful transformation, with thoughtful attention to details related to use. Nice job Dan.
But for myself, spending what must total hours upon hours looking for various industrial black remote controls, black meters, etc., any other color but black would be my choice.
Many years ago, when mugging was common in Central Park in NYC, a friend swung his Leicaflex at criminal to protect himself. He reported that camera suffered no damage.
As for ease in holding Medalist steady, I have found keeping camera cased when using helps. If I were to replace skin on my Medalist, it would be with a checkered pattern to provide a better grip.
 

John Wiegerink

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I like keeping mine in a half-case that I replaced the original straps with a neoprene one. There are times when I just want to carry the camera naked with the same straps and that's when the "grip-tec" covering is worth its weight in gold. I'm amazed that our military didn't require Kodak to put a grippier covering on for WWII. I can imagine those Navy sailors and Marines had pretty wet and slippery hands from all the heat , humidity and rain in the Pacific.
 
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Dan Daniel

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blee1996 said:
Hi Dan @Dan Daniel, may I ask where did you source the griptec covering for Medalist?
Click to expand...
Morgan at CameraLeather.com

Hugo Studios also has the pattern. But there are some sloppy sections in their pieces (no surprise for Hugo all in all). I sent Morgan a collection of Medalist I and II parts for him to use for developing his pattern and as is typical for him he is pretty accurate.

The biggest problem area is the thin strip that wraps the back top and bottom. I used some shaping with a heat gun and some contact cement to get it to stick.
 
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Dan Daniel

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guangong said:
If I were to replace skin on my Medalist, it would be with a checkered pattern to provide a better grip.
Click to expand...
Wondering if you have used GripTac and compared it to the checkered you mention? I assume the checkered is like on some Yashica-mats?? Where can I get some?

Anyway, GripTac is very.. well, grippy!! It's a softish rubber in a pattern designed to create varied 'grab' bumps all over. It was developed for pistols and such. The Tac is short for tactical, one of those words that does strange things to gun people it seems...
 

blee1996

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Thank you!
 
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Dan Daniel

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Patrick Robert James said:
Is Camera Leather still doing business? Their website hasn't changed in a decade. Still bare bones with no links....
Click to expand...

My understanding is that the site was hacked at some point and Morgan never rebuilt it to a functional level again. I am not certain why. It could be that he gets all the business he wants as is? I think people send an email describing their camera and he'll respond eventually.
 

guangong

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Good to know, but for now shall keep my Medalist in original condition. Mine came with original case in pristine condition, which gives me a good grip for shooting.
Dan, I always find your comments on camera operation and repair very informative.
 

guangong

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Probably the pressure of providing cameras as quickly as possible to theaters of action prevented further refinement. Nevertheless, one of my favorite cameras. Mine is a Medalist I, but with anodized lens barrel and coated lens. Never bothered to modify to 120 film since I have accumulated enough 620 spools.
 

John Wiegerink

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That's a possibility, but with the war lasting as long as it did I would think there would have been a modification to the covering. I have two Medalist I's, each has been converted with flash sync added and one Medalist II. I also have most of the accessories for the Medalist. None of mine have been converted to 120 and I have a good stock of 620 spools so they never will be. Yes, I'm with you, these are my favorite cameras of all time.
 

Patrick Robert James

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That is kind of what I remember Dan. I know his old site is still up in pieces on the Waybackmachine. The last time I needed leather for a couple cameras I just used Hugo. I’ve always had the impression though that Morgan had the highest quality leather.
 
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Dan Daniel

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John Wiegerink said:
I'm amazed that our military didn't require Kodak to put a grippier covering on for WWII. I can imagine those Navy sailors and Marines had pretty wet and slippery hands from all the heat , humidity and rain in the Pacific.
Click to expand...
There are techniques and materials that have unusual uses but are no longer around. Maybe something like pine tar was common to have around, and it was common knowledge among people from farms that it made smooth leather easy to grip. Well, completely made-up example, but you get the idea.

Some of these type of things make me think of the adage, you dance with the one that brung you. Complaining or looking for a replacement material wasn't the mindset. Like modern TLR bright screens. I look at the Rolleiflex work of someone like Robert Doisneau working in dark bars with ground glass screens on the camera and can't imagine.... yet when I was in my early 20s my Rolleicord had a half-desilvered mirror and dirty ground glass and I muddled along with indoor shots at the Pport Authority in New York and such.
 
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guangong

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Just a possibility that none of the servicemen who used the camera made any complaints about the covering. Also, the US engagement in war with Japan was only 4 years. Modifications could have been planned but never introduced. It’s also possible, ignoring the Kodak photo of sailor using Medalist, that in actual application sailors found it easier to hold cased camera steady.
As I understand, Medalist was used to photograph enemy’s shores, so flash would serve no purpose.
What is fascinating is that so many of these cameras, made in 1940s, are still going strong.
 
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