Expert: David Silver - 11/1/2006

Question
I have aquired an old Eastman Kodak No. 3A Autographic.  It shows a series of patent No's from 1898 to 1914.  It took film that was A-122.  It also say's on the inside that it is a folding pocket camera, they must have had big pockets in those days!  I could not find any other serial numbers or ID. info.  What can you tell me about the camera in general?  What is the Autographic feature?  What is a ball park value on a camera like this?

Answer


Hello,

The No. 3A Autographic Kodak is actually a very slightly modified form of the No. 3A Folding Pocket Kodak (primarily the Model C), a common amateur's folding bellows camera, made by Eastman Kodak in many subtle variations from 1903 to 1934, for 3 1/4 x 5 1/2 inch "post card size" exposures on #122 roll film.  The camera was offered without the autographic feature from 1903 to 1915, wearing a fancy red bellows from 1903 to about 1913, then with black bellows after 1913, the autographic feature was an option in 1914 and 1915, and all of them were autographic after 1915.  The autographic feature on the camera was a small door or flap on the back, and there's a small metal stylus provided with it.  The feature had less to do with the camera than with the optional autographic film that could be used, designated #A122 instead of #122.  The autographic film was backed by an unusual carbon paper that would become very slightly transluscent when a sharp object was pressed against it.  In practice, autographic film was used in the camera just like any other normal roll of film, but with one added advantage.  If the photographer wished to make a special note about a specific picture, the back flap was opened, the stylus was used to scribe a note within the tiny space available there, the space was exposed to light for a moment, then the flap was closed so the photographer could go on to the next shot.  When the pictures were developed, the note was visible along the top margin of that specific negative!  So the autographic feature was actually the very first "data back" on a camera, and the idea was conceived decades before other such systems became available.  George Eastman was so convinced of the value of this feature that he paid the inventor a whopping $300,000 in 1913, an absolute fortune in those days, to own it outright!  Therefore, only Kodak cameras were made with the feature, and it remained available on the majority of their cameras until 1934.  A lot of history there, but I'm afraid not a lot of value.  These cameras are extremely common, so the current market value for a truly excellent example is only around $50.

Best wishes,

David Silver