Kodak 3A Autographic camera model B-4
Kodak
Category
Photographic technology
Date
1910 - 1914
Materials
Wood, Metal, Paper, Glass, Brass
Measurements
240 x 120 x 49 mm
Place of origin
Rochester
Order this imageCollection
Fox Talbot Museum, Wiltshire
NT 101418
Summary
Kodak 3A Autographic camera model B-4 folding roll film camera with black leather on metal and wooden body and a maroon bellows. The 3A Autographic camera is one of Kodak’s early folding cameras and was designed to take a variant of 122 format film, commonly known as the postcard format. The standard is mounted on a U shape metal bracket and can be raised and lower by means of a knurled metal knob and can be moved left, right and angle rotation by means of the knurled knob under the lens. Like most early Kodak folding cameras, the lens on the 3A is quite modest. The lens is marked Rapid Rectilinear Bausch & Lomb Optical Co and around the lens Eastman Kodak Co, Rochester, NY USA. The camera is fitted with a ball bearing shutter patent pending and giving 5 shutter speed settings are Time, Bulb, 1/25, 1/50 and 1/100, seconds. Focus is by means of position of the standard on the slide rail and give a minimum focus distance of six feet to a maximum of 100. Once you unfold the camera by finding and pressing the hidden button located on the handle side of the bottom plate, the 3A is fairly simple to operate. The standard is pulled forward on the rail by means of 2 spring clips. You compose by using the right-angle viewfinder above the lens, focus using the scale on the front panel and fire the shutter by pressing the lever at the lens barrel’s 10 o’clock position or with a cable release via the socket just below it. When the back is removed the following text – No 3 – A folding pocket Kodak, Model B-4 US patents Sept 25 1894 through Oct 19 1909. OTHER PATENTS PENDING Manufactured by Eastman Kodak Co, Rochester, NY, Made in the USA. There is a handle strap attached to the camera and the pull down metal hinge when extended has the number 190528A on one side and KODAK on the other.
Provenance
Presented to the FTM by Cecil Beaton. Cecil is photographed holding the camera, talking to Bob Lassam at an event at the FTM.
Makers and roles
Kodak, manufacturer