Cameras/How to open an old Kodak camera
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Question
I found an old Kodak camera. In researching pictures on the internet it looks like a #2 Kodak pocket camera. The dates inside the back of it range from 1902-1916. I am just trying to fiqure out how to open. The lever that says Kodak lifts up but still doesn't open.
Hello,
Without seeing the camera for myself to determine the exact model you have, I can't tell you the exact location, but these cameras have a release button hidden under the leather somewhere on the side of the body near the front door. You need to look and feel along the edge to find the button, press it, and the door should pop open. If in doubt, send me a single small JPEG showing the camera's overall general appearance to my personal e-mail <silver@well.com> and I'll get right back to you with the precise location of that hidden button.
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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