Cameras/Eastman Kodak Camera
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Question
What is the value of this camera and can it be used? It uses 616 film - develops postcard size and the camera has an accordian pullout.'It's called a Jiffy Kodak - Series II
Hi Lorene,
The Jiffy Kodak Six-16 Series II is a simple amateur pop-out folding bellows camera, made by Eastman Kodak from 1937 to 1942, for 2 1/2 x 4 1/4 inch exposures on old #616 rollfilm. (Post card size is officially 3 1/4 x 5 1/2 inches, so it's not quite there.) I'm afraid to report it's hardly a treasure. Zillions of them were made, most have survived, and excellent examples are readily available in the collectible camera market in the $20 range. When found in the interesting original art deco box, that price can triple, but all the value is in the box!
Best wishes,
David Silver
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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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