Cameras/Kodak 1A Autographic Folding Camera
Advertisement
Question
Hi David,
I've inherited a Kodak 1A Autographic camera and tried all over the web to identify this particular model - without success!
It's not a Jr or Pocket Model, and differs from all the 1A pictures I've seen - there are differences in all of them.
This one has the ball bearing shutter, with 25, B, 50, T and 100/sec. The lens is the Rapid Rectilinear Bausch & Lomb, with f #s of 4,8,16,32,64 and 128. The camera uses No A-116 film (and took great photos when last used in 1980!)
The bellows slide mechanism has push barrel plungers at the front (I haven't seen a photo of any other like that) and the stylus is back panel mounted rather than vertically next to the lens. The focus plate is in ft and metres, and from 2-30 in the latter case. The film spool winder is not D shaped, but sextagonal, and there are no corresponding winder mechanisms on the opposite side. In fact, alll that's there is the bellows release button and the tripod mounting hole.
Finally, the camera seems to open differently for film changing from the other 1As I've seen. There is an indented, semi-recessed push button on the back near to the film viewing porthole which, when pressed, allows the bottom 2" of the body to slide out, thus allowing the back casing to be separated from the main camera.
If you could identify this exact model, I'd be most grateful. Thanks, Norry
Hi Norry,
You are describing the "New Model" or "1917 Model" of the No. 1A Autographic Kodak. The way the back comes off is quite distinctive. This model was introduced in 1917 and remained in production through 1924. Just out of curiosity, I also tried to find a picture of this model on the internet, but without success. Although they made a lot of them, it was sort of an oddball design, and they're frequently found today with malfunctioning backs. Inevitably somebody forced the issue and wrecked them. They could accept the A-116 autographic type film while it was available, and after that did just fine with regular #116 roll film. Truly excellent examples of this camera sell for around $50 in the collectible camera market today.
Best wishes,
David Silver
- Add to this Answer
- Ask a Question
| Rating(1-10) | Knowledgeability = 10 | Clarity of Response = 10 | Politeness = 10 |
| Comment | David, I'm impressed. I'd hoped for a reply in a couple of days, and never expected to get one in a just a few hours - I got all the info I'd asked for into the bargain. This was all the more impressive as it was July 5th, and I thought that y'all over there would be recovering from yesterday's celebrations! A great job - 10/10 and many thanks. Norry Bell | ||
Related Articles
- My First Camera - Kodak Brownie Hawkeye - Reader Stories: My First Camera - About Photography Readers Remember Their First Cameras
- Kodak Cameras - Learning More About Manufacturing Kodak Digital Cameras
- Capturing Your Memories on Film - Family Guide to Walt Disney World
- George Eastman - The History of Kodak and Rolled Photographic Film
- The Birth of Modern Photography - Photography
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:
©2012 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company. All rights reserved.