Expert: David Silver - 7/24/2006

Question
Hi David, Thanks for being an 'expert'!
This is really a follow-on from Norry's question about his Kodak Autographic on 7/5/06.
I got a little excited to see someone else refer to the barrel plungers because we also couldn't find much, if any, like that. However our's is different to Norry's too.
The back plate says "NO.1 Autographic Kodak Special".
Shutter speeds are 300,200,100,50,25,5,2,1, B & T. The lens is a Wollensak Optimo, f stops 6.3,8,11,16,22,32,46.
Like Norry's there are push barrel plungers to slide the bellows. The stylus is attached to the autograph window & has a lovely patterned finish, probably for friction.
Focus plate is marked 6-100 ft, 2-30 metres. The winder is an elaborated D-shape. There's a tripod mounting hole on the side & on the fold down front panel.
The whole back expands & comes off to load film, by pulling up the film winder. Various patent dates engaved on the metal between the 2 sections, latest is in 1916.
Carry handle is on the side not the end & slides on 2 'buttons.
I'm also fascinated by how many variations there are on these cameras - I imagine its partly because they were hand made?

Answer

Hello,

The No. 1 Autographic Kodak Special Model A is a high quality folding bellows camera, made by Eastman Kodak from 1915 to 1920, for 2 1/4 x 3 1/4 inch exposures on #120 roll film (or #A-120 to utilize the autographic feature).  As a "special" model, it was available with some very fine lenses and shutters that were not found on the more pedestrian cameras.  Technically, this is still a very usable camera, since the quality of the lenses surpasses the vintage, and the camera uses a readily available size film.  This was certainly the professional extension of Norry's basically amateur model.  We don't see these very often today, but collectible interest is limited.  Possibly a result of poor documentation (as evidenced by your and Norry's inability to find anything on the internet).  A truly excellent example should sell in the $100 range.  The unusual pull-apart body design of the Model A was abandoned in the two following models that were sold through 1926.  As for all the variations, this was the standard marketing strategy during that time, especially with Kodak.  They wanted to make sure there was a camera configuration for EVERY pocket book and sensibility.  The more cameras they sold, the more film people needed to buy, and the money was actually in the film!

Best wishes,

David Silver