Cameras/old camera
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Question
hello Mr. silver my name is tom I recently become the owner of my grandfathers NO. 3 Folding Pocket Camera, made by Eastman Kodak co. Rochester NY USA. I am new to the camera scene and would like to know as much as I can about this one camera. Is it worth restoring, can I do it myself as I am very mechanical, should this be done by an expert? is it rare, so many questions. well for now these are a few main ones. thank you in advance for your knowledge and advice
tom
Hi Tom,
The No. 3 Folding Pocket Kodak is a common amateur's folding bellows camera, made in a number of minor variations by Eastman Kodak from 1900 to 1915, for 3 1/4 x 4 1/4 inch exposures on old #118 roll film. Zillions of these were sold, and many have survived. A truly excellent example would only sell for around $60-$70 in the collectible camera market, so, if yours needs restoration, it's honestly not worth the investment to have somebody else do it. Enjoy it just the way is.
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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