Medalist question

[westfi1]

I recently bought a Kodak Medalist ll from 1946. It didn’t come with the case. When these cameras were purchased new, did they come with a neck strap for just the camera, or only with the case with attached neck strap ? If I buy a case for it, can the neck strap be removed from the case and attached directly to the camera ? Thanks everyone !

 

[Hunter_Compton]

Both the Medalist I and II have strap lugs on the body, and there were strap lugs on the case, so you can put the strap wherever you like.

I don't see why you would need the original strap, in fact I don't know if I would trust 70 year old leather with a camera this heavy.

 

[Dan Daniel]

I recently bought a Kodak Medalist ll from 1946. It didn’t come with the case. When these cameras were purchased new, did they come with a neck strap for just the camera, or only with the case with attached neck strap ? If I buy a case for it, can the neck strap be removed from the case and attached directly to the camera ? Thanks everyone !

I don't know what was in the box when new. I do know that the case does have lugs for straps. That most have a leather strap attached to these lugs. And that the strap is held on by a loop through the lug that is riveted close. So you can't use the original strap elsewhere without some destruction and construction.

And I'm with Hunter-Compton that old leather straps are dangerous, as my first Rolleicord demonstrated by falling to the sidewalk one day with the force of stepping off a curb in NYC. blee196 is not alone in having them fail. Whether you use the strap lugs on the case or on the camera, use a more recent strap itself.

 

[Saganich]

The 'original' leather straps no matter how good they seem are just an accident waiting to happen, as Dan mentioned. Some cases allow you to attach new leather or nylon strap through the existing riveted loops around the bottom where there is an additional loop, and back up the other side (see example). The leather loops on the case shouldn't only be holding up the camera because the loops will fail as well. On my Medalist I use a old-school wide strap (like a guitar strap) attached to the strap lugs on the body.

 

[westfi1]

@Hunter_Compton : Please forgive me for interrupting this thread, but I don’t know how else to contact you. I don't know if you are still compiling Kodak Chevron camera serial numbers , but if you are, I have two for you. I just bought a mint Chevron. The body serial number is 001009, and the lens serial number is RM263. As I recall, this body serial number is lower than the lowest one you mentioned on your Photrio post . . .

 

[MattKing]

Medalist related post moved to this thread.

 

[Hunter_Compton]

@Hunter_Compton : Please forgive me for interrupting this thread, but I don’t know how else to contact you. I don't know if you are still compiling Kodak Chevron camera serial numbers , but if you are, I have two for you. I just bought a mint Chevron. The body serial number is 001009, and the lens serial number is RM263. As I recall, this body serial number is lower than the lowest one you mentioned on your Photrio post . . .

Yes, that would be the earliest body serial I have now, the next lowest being 001018

It still supports my assertion that Chevron body serials were started at 001000 and mated with separately serialized lenses.

Also, not technically a Medalist, but close enough.

 

[westfi1]

Thanks !