Was just given this as a gift. But --- what is it??? Film looks like 120 with elephantiasis.
I have no idea if it works. But, it sure is purdy!
I have no idea if it works. But, it sure is purdy!
A wld guess- it's a Kodak No. 3-A Autographic model c?
https://camerapedia.fandom.com/wiki/No._3A_Folding_Pocket_Kodak
Mine’s bigger than yours! LOL2.25" x 4.5".
But does yours have the same sort of history!?Mine’s bigger than yours! LOL
I have one like it somewhere, in a storage box. An early 20th century relic, pre-First World War. Not worth much as an antique, but an interesting collectable, as someone has posted very lovely in a China cabinet.
The Eastman autographic system was overrated but quite a craze in the 1910s. The old Kodak amateur photo books have interesting information about them. The shutter will probably still work. Clean the lens v-e-r-y carefully. The bellows may be full of holes.
It looks too big to be a 120 'tho Eastman Kodak did make those. Likely an odd size film - 116, 117, 122.
Converting to 120 is fun. Don't expect to get anything in really sharp focus on film with it. Otherwise, an amusing project to clean and maybe restore on a cold winter's day.
A half hour's work with some bees' wax and a little Kiwi or Nugget black boot polish will make that baby shine like new.
Does it have the Kodak Autographic 'pencil' (a small Art Nouveau embossed metal stylus) in its holder at the back? Most don't. Mine did, and by some minor miracle I recently bought a homeless pencil in a charity shop for A$2. Apparently a rare collectable, those pencils.
Enjoy!!
Put it on a tripod, these things took great pictures. Mine isn't a autograph model, ball bearing shutter still works perfectly.Well, shutter opens and closes. I’d need to tape up the back cover — looks like there would be some light leaks. But — with a spacer like in the referenced thread — why not? Could be fun.
Don't see any stylus, but the back cover at least tells me this was one of the last models:
View attachment 276746
They really do! For quite a while I used the lens and shutter on mine to shoot Polaroid. Transplanted it to lens board of a view camera. Surprisingly good even with color film.Put it on a tripod, these things took great pictures.
Google (Camerapedia) tells me Kodak made the Autographic in the period 1914-1927. As you say, it look as if yours is a very late model. It surprises me to say patent information going back to 1902, long before this model would have hit the camera stores of that time.
The condition of the inside back cover metal on yours looks to be very good, BTW. About 800,000 were made. This surprised me. I had not expected so many, Box Brownies yes, but the Autographic was a mid-range market camera and not one of Eastman's el cheapo offerings.
You will have to replace the small round celluloid red window with a new one. I was once told these can be bought online. The window of my camera is pristine. I also have the box and the original instruction booklet, which as I recall is dated 1922. So this may be the date my camera was produced. Like in your case, mine was also a gift, it belonged to my partner's friend's mother who had it put it away in a closet for many years. When she passed on her things were distributed to family and somehow we ended up with the camera. A nice gift.
My mention of the China cabinet was not meant as a joke, BTW. I too intend to take my out one day, clean it up and put in on display in a same cabinet. When properly spit-polished (those old Kodaks respond well to a little TLC), it deserves to be shown off.
A little nostalgia here. I got into photography in Eastern Canada at age 14, in 1961 and for a few years I bought all my film and darkroom supplies from the now long-vanished Wilcox Photo Studio in Moncton, New Brunswick which I recall still had several of these new models for sale in a beautiful old Kodak display stand. How I wish I had spent some of my photo earnings (I did news photos and processed Verichrome Pan films for locals who wanted one-day processing) to buy one or the lot...
Great story. I feel sorry for kids that miss out on these kind of things. Of course there's 12 year olds today that design and 3D print all kinds of things.Google (Camerapedia) tells me Kodak made the Autographic in the period 1914-1927. As you say, it look as if yours is a very late model. It surprises me to say patent information going back to 1902, long before this model would have hit the camera stores of that time.
The condition of the inside back cover metal on yours looks to be very good, BTW. About 800,000 were made. This surprised me. I had not expected so many, Box Brownies yes, but the Autographic was a mid-range market camera and not one of Eastman's el cheapo offerings.
You will have to replace the small round celluloid red window with a new one. I was once told these can be bought online. The window of my camera is pristine. I also have the box and the original instruction booklet, which as I recall is dated 1922. So this may be the date my camera was produced. Like in your case, mine was also a gift, it belonged to my partner's friend's mother who had it put it away in a closet for many years. When she passed on her things were distributed to family and somehow we ended up with the camera. A nice gift.
My mention of the China cabinet was not meant as a joke, BTW. I too intend to take my out one day, clean it up and put in on display in a same cabinet. When properly spit-polished (those old Kodaks respond well to a little TLC), it deserves to be shown off.
A little nostalgia here. I got into photography in Eastern Canada at age 14, in 1961 and for a few years I bought all my film and darkroom supplies from the now long-vanished Wilcox Photo Studio in Moncton, New Brunswick which I recall still had several of these new models for sale in a beautiful old Kodak display stand. How I wish I had spent some of my photo earnings (I did news photos and processed Verichrome Pan films for locals who wanted one-day processing) to buy one or the lot...
You may be surprised - from my mid 1930s Six-16 (with a light leak - careful how you attach it to a tripod):Don't expect to get anything in really sharp focus on film with it.
You need to tape over the window anyway… it’s on the far edge of the 122 film, which is not even close to the 120 film and would be an ugly light leak. I established a “start arrow” and counted the number of turns of the wind knob it took to get to film. Then counted the number of turns for each frame. First using an old 120 film backing until I got the counts right.well, I could replace tge window…or just put some tape over it. Who needs to know what frame I’m on? ;-)
You need to tape over the window anyway… it’s on the far edge of the 122 film, which is not even close to the 120 film and would be an ugly light leak. I established a “start arrow” and counted the number of turns of the wind knob it took to get to film. Then counted the number of turns for each frame. First using an old 120 film backing until I got the counts right.
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