Looking for information about Kodak No 3 Folding Hawk-Eye model 7

rrunnertexas · Jun 26, 2015

Using Google to search for information about the Kodak no 3 folding Hawk-eye model 7 did not give much information.

It appears that the Hawk-eye camera name was from an early company that was bought by Blair camera, which was then later bought by Eastman Kodak.

Can anyone help me with a few sources for information regarding this camera? I would enjoy seeing it listed in a sales catalog and finding a instruction manual.

Thanks for the help!

removed account4 · Jun 26, 2015

i poked around google but wans't able to find exactly what you were looking for.
seeing blair was bought out by kodak i googled using "blair hawk eye roll film camera" and found a few things ..
unfortunately no instructions, but the last link includes an illustrated guide showing much of the blair camera company's line up
and maybe something similar to what you have ?

did your camera come with empty film rolls or a "combination back" so it could be used with ground glass and plates ?

the good folks at pacific rim camera might be able to help you learn where to find some of the
information you were looking for. and they might be able to answer your questions if you have any.
not sure if you found these links or will find them helpful ...

http://www.antiquewoodcameras.com/combo3.html
http://www.historiccamera.com/cgi-bin/librarium2/pm.cgi?action=app_display&app=datasheet&app_id=430
http://www.historiccamera.com/cgi-bin/librarium/pm.cgi?action=display&login=blair_camco
https://books.google.com/books?id=F...ge&q="blair hawk eye roll film camera&f=false

have fun with your camera !
john

k.hendrik · Jun 26, 2015

http://www.cameramuseum.nl/kodak-klapcamera.htm
http://www.butkus.org/chinon/kodak.htm
I have the Folding Hawk-eye six-20 model C. Shutter has a mind of her own ! but lovely camera/soft images when all comes together. Happy shooting.

gone · Jun 26, 2015

Try this site. It gives you easy to figure out info, and lets you know the film that each camera takes. Good Retina and Brownie info as well. Not necessarily collector info, more for us that want to know if the model we're interested in will take film that is made today.

http://kodak.3106.net/index.php?p=213

rrunnertexas · Jun 26, 2015

jnanian,

This one is set up for 118 size roll film. It has red bellows with a Kodak shutter and RR lens. Looks to be the better of the offerings in this model. I did find an advertisement in the July 24th, 1909 issue of the Saturday Evening Post, on page 30. It shows this camera as being $15.00 and sold as Blair Camera Division of the Eastman Kodak Co.

I looked at all the links, but nothing so far matches this model. I guess this was not a big seller?

rrunnertexas · Jun 26, 2015

k.hendrik,

Not sure how this model will look. I hope sharper rather than soft, but I will see!

removed account4 · Jun 26, 2015

rrunnertexas said:
jnanian,

This one is set up for 118 size roll film. It has red bellows with a Kodak shutter and RR lens. Looks to be the better of the offerings in this model. I did find an advertisement in the July 24th, 1909 issue of the Saturday Evening Post, on page 30. It shows this camera as being $15.00 and sold as Blair Camera Division of the Eastman Kodak Co.

I looked at all the links, but nothing so far matches this model. I guess this was not a big seller?

bummer
i thought my digging would have found something similar to yours if not the same thing with a different name.
thos big old self-casing bellows roll film cameras are amazing ---
not sure how big 118 film is, but i am guessing pretty big judging from the size of your camera !
sorry to ask questions about your camera, but have you used it yet ?
paper negatives? respooled paper or 120 film ?
lots of fun to be had with these old beauties !

your ad sounds fun.
that camera cost a fortune when it was new,
$15 back then is worth about $395 today

john

rrunnertexas · Jun 29, 2015

I sure appreciate the links you sent. It is a challenge to find information on this camera.
118 film is a bit larger than 120 film.
The Holgamods guy is going to try and make a set of adapters so that 120 film can be used in place of the original 118 size film.
I will not be able to shoot with it until the adapters can be made. Not sure how long that will take.

You are so correct... it is a lot of fun to shoot film on these vintage folding cameras. I think I have had more fun with these and photography in general than with digital.

Looking at the bright red bellows and being involved with everything in the shot makes it more interesting. Setting the exposure, finding a nice background, using a reflector instead of flash and setting the focus just right all make it worth while.

mhcfires · Jun 29, 2015

jnanian said:
bummer
i thought my digging would have found something similar to yours if not the same thing with a different name.
thos big old self-casing bellows roll film cameras are amazing ---
not sure how big 118 film is, but i am guessing pretty big judging from the size of your camera !
sorry to ask questions about your camera, but have you used it yet ?
paper negatives? respooled paper or 120 film ?
lots of fun to be had with these old beauties !

your ad sounds fun.
that camera cost a fortune when it was new,
$15 back then is worth about $395 today

john

118 film is 90mm (give or take a mm), just like 122 film. The kodak 3a took 122 film.

m

rrunnertexas · Jul 19, 2015

Well, I did it again - I bought a Blair no 3 Hawk eye model 3. This is almost the same camera as the one I have listed above, except this one is completely Blair without the Kodak shutter/lens. The same but different.

I'm still searching for any information about these cameras. I did find a simple advertisement, but not much more.

Help!

Looking for information about Kodak No 3 Folding Hawk-Eye model 7

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