Kodak Ektra mfg. date?

[Worker 11811]

I have a Kodak Ektra 35mm rangefinder camera and, as I was looking it over, I checked the serial number to see if I could determine the date of manufacture.

MA-xxxx

If I use the "CAMEROSITY" mnemonic, that comes out to "32."
I assume that means ”1932." If the camera was first sold in 1941, date code of 1932 doesn't make sense.

Have I messed up somewhere or do I really have a camera that predates its release by ten years?
That can't be true. Can it?

 

[Peltigera]

Where on the camera is that serial number? You could find a serial number on the back, on the body casting and on the lens. If you have more than one, are they the same?

 

[snapguy]

backs

It is my understanding the Ektras had interchangeable film backs so the serial number on the film back could be different than the original serial number of the camera body shown elsewhere. Sounds lie a rally interesting film camera and ahead of I time. Good luck with it.

 

[Worker 11811]

Here are some digi-snaps of the camera in question

First, is a shot of the camera, to verify it's identity.
Next, there is a shot of the serial number on the casting inside the body, after taking the back off. Serial number M-A1207. The other serial number matches the one on the back.
Third is the film back with a serial number of 1582.

If M = 3 and A = 2 then that means "32." Right?

Does that mean the date of manufacture is 1932?

According to Kodak's own website information, the camera was marketed between 1942 and 1948.
http://www.kodak.com/global/en/consumer/products/techInfo/aa13/aa13pg2.shtml

A date code of 1932 doesn't make sense. That can't be right. Can it?

I must be missing something.

 

[Peltigera]

The CAMEROSITY system was not introduced until the 1940s, so perhaps your camera slightly pre-dates this and the letters have either no meaning or some other meaning. The fact that you have two 'serial numbers' suggests that this might be the case. Also, the system was introduced for lenses, not bodies - although it was sometimes used on bodies as well. There should be a serial number on the lens - this will be more reliable as to date (assuming it is different to the body numbers!).

 

[Worker 11811]

Yes, but the Ektra was made in the 40's.

 

[Peltigera]

The CAMEROSITY system was not introduced on 1 January, 1940. I still think you need to date your camera by the lens serial number rather than by either of the two body numbers you have. That hyphen in the serial number looks, to me, as if the M and the A are not parts of a date code. If they were, I would expect them to be contiguous.

 

[Worker 11811]

The only markings on the lens beside the make, model and focal length, etc., is the number 822 stamped on the body, under the locking ring.

According to Kodak's publication (linked above) the Ektra was introduced in 1942 but I think you are onto something with the hyphen.
"M" would stand for 3. That might mean that the camera was manufactured in 1943.
But if "A" stands for 2, that might mean that it was made in 1942.

The serial number is 1207. From my research, there were only about 2500 of these cameras ever made. Over the the seven year span that the camera was made, that comes out about 350 units per year. It is also my understanding that the series started with the number 1000. If you do the math, that means that the camera I have might have been made in late in higher first year or early in the second year of manufacture.

Am I on track, so far?

If I put all the puzzle pieces together, I would guess that the camera was made in 1942.
That's about the best I can figure.

What do you think?

 

[Aristotle80]

I don't know about the production dates, but I have to say that's a neat looking camera!