Posted 13 years ago
palouse77
(1 item)
I picked this up at an estate sale. Is is an advertising piece? I think this is a cute photo/poster. Thanks!
Let The Children Kodak | ||
| Advertising8891 of 10072 |  |  |
Let The Children Kodak | ||
| Advertising8891 of 10072 | | |
Posted 13 years ago
palouse77
(1 item)
I picked this up at an estate sale. Is is an advertising piece? I think this is a cute photo/poster. Thanks!
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The short answer is that this is an advertising piece of some form. In looking closely, the little girl appears to be holding a Folding Pocket Kodak (such as a No.3 or 3a - an immensely popular camera series) that dates from the early 1900s to about 1915 (or so).
But to put this in the proper context; with the introduction of the Brownie camera in 1900, the objective was to create a simple camera that would continue to expand interest in George Eastman's photographic products to anyone. After creating the unique brand name "Kodak," the name was cleverly used for marketing and advertising such as "the witchery of Kodakery" in 1898, and in 1899 tying the statement to parents photographing their young children.
It seems that Kodakery - implying the art of picture taking with Kodak technology - was also (IMO) simplified as a verb (i.e. 'to Kodak' – take pictures with Kodak cameras). This is suggested in a 1905 catalog listing for the Brownie Camera: "To place photography within the grasp of children was our original idea in putting out the original box-form Brownie camera. With it we believed that youngsters could photograph their mates, the games they played, ..."
As far as your advertising item, the word 'Kodak' shrewdly keeps brand equity in front of amateur adult photographers while at the same time (also IMO) updating Eastman’s original, yet ingenious 1888 slogan; “You press the button, we do the rest”, which was created to attract a new class of picture takers that didn’t need to have knowledge of photography.
Actually a cool story when you think about it.
Anybody know the value of this piece?