"Canadian Kodak" not Eastman | ||
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Posted 4 years ago
sebgiudice
(1 item)
Hello all.
I'm new to this site and found it whilst researching the Canadian Kodak camera I found a long time ago on eBay. I was wondering if anyone could advise me on it? Is it rare? Are there people keen to collect this item. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Kind regards
Seb
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Hi Seb and welcome to CW. Thomas, thanks for reaching out.
Your camera model is the "Vest Pocket Autographic Kodak." As background, in 1899, George Eastman founded a division in Canada.
This is a very common camera and the production run for all models was approximately 1,750,000 from 1915 to 1926; the production run for "autographic" models is reported as 1,432,500 cameras. Fun fact: The Vest Pocket Autographic Kodak was so popular with the military during WW1, it was advertised as "The Soldier's Camera.”
Autographic cameras such as yours used a special film. The little metal window on the back of your camera holds a small metal stylus. Photographers used the stylus to “write” some info about the picture (i.e. names, dates) which became a permanent part of the negative. A variation of the original Kodak slogan was coined for this system: “You write the title; it does the rest.”
Your camera appears to have a black crackle metal body finish (as opposed to a smooth black enamel finish). If this correct, catalogues describe it as a “Japan Crystal" finish. My library of consumer Kodak catalogues indicates cameras with the Japan Crystal finish were offered from 1922 to 1926.
The lens is a simple meniscus achromatic formula mounted in a Kodak ball bearing shutter. This lens shutter combination was listed in catalogues from 1922 to 1925.
In summary, this is not a rare camera. Collector demand and value are somewhat low due to the extensive numbers found for sale.
Thanks all for the help. I appreciate the insights. It's very interesting information that I would have not found with internet searches. Thanks.
I'll be looking for a new home for the camera. I've had it long enough, so it's time for someone else to enjoy it.
Many thanks
Seb