Cameras/ca.1918 Possible Cameras
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Question
My great uncle flew for the RAF in WWI.
I have an album of photos that he personally took.
I was hoping with what little info I can supply that I could get a short list of possible cameras (and film).
The positives are b&w with a size of 2½" x 1 5/8" (I don't have any negatives).
He was a naturalized (~1910) American, did his flying training in Canada (1918), and flew for the RAF in 1918.
So I assume his camera was of either US, Canadian or UK manufacture.
I'm hoping the format size will narrow down the possibilities.
I'm working on a biography of him and with all the photos I have it might be nice to include the camera type used.
Hello,
I have one EXTREMELY good camera candidate for you, and it was THE single most popular camera carried by MANY American, British, and Canadian soldiers, during and immediately after World War I. Although there are other possibilities, I suggest you look no further than the Vest Pocket Kodak (also seen as the Autographic Vest Pocket Kodak). The "VPK" was an amazingly compact pop-up folding bellows camera, made by Eastman Kodak (in all three of their factories, in the USA, England, and Canada!) from about 1913 to 1925, for 1 5/8 x 2 1/2 inch exposures on #127 (or A127) roll film. If you contact me at the e-mail address below, I can probably provide you with one for free, and then you can get an idea of what your great uncle used. It probably won't be a fully functional example after all these years, but at least you'll have a reference point. I can also provide a picture if that's all you need.
Best wishes,
David F. Silver - President
International Photographic Historical Organization
silver@photographyhistory.com
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| Rating(1-10) | Knowledgeability = 10 | Clarity of Response = 10 | Politeness = 10 |
| Comment | Thank you for your time and expertise. A picture of the camera won't be necessary nor will an actual camera. You make a good case for the type. I'll never know the truth because the camera and the person are long gone. | ||
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David Silver
Expertise
I'm an expert on all types of antique, classic, and contemporary cameras, as well as the general history of photography. Everything from ancient box cameras to modern single-lens-reflex; from simple Kodaks to sophisticated Leica and Nikon; from glass plates and roll film to movie and 35mm. I can identify and appraise them, explain how they work, and offer insights on their restoration and care. I can also provide historical background on vintage cameras and equipment, and guidelines on their purchase and sale.
Experience
I've been a professional photographer and a student of the history of photography for nearly 30 years. During that time my collection of vintage cameras and photographic paraphernalia has grown beyond 2000 significant pieces. I've published nearly 70 articles in the field, including 16 in the popular "Buying Classic Cameras" series for PHOTO SHOPPER MAGAZINE from 1995 to 1997, I'm currently a contributing editor for CAMERA SHOPPER MAGAZINE and McKEOWN'S PRICE GUIDE TO ANTIQUE AND CLASSIC CAMERAS, and I've written numerous entries for WORLD BOOK ENCYCLOPEDIA. Portions of my collection have been displayed in museums and special exhibits in the past two decades, and many of the items were photographed as illustrations for books. In 1985 I founded the International Photographic Historical Organization (InPHO), which eventually evolved into its intended purpose as the best first resource for information on the history of photography. I'm also a founding member of several e-mail forums dedicated to specialized areas of photography, and I'm the moderator of the Internet Directory of Camera Collectors (IDCC), which remains the largest and most successful such group in the world. For more information about the International Photographic Historical Organization and its many services, please visit its web pages at:
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