3A Autographic Kodak Special camera, model B.
Kodak
Category
Photographic technology
Date
1914 - 1916
Materials
Leather, Metal, Paper, Glass
Measurements
240 x 120 x 50 mm
Place of origin
Rochester
Collection
Fox Talbot Museum, Wiltshire
NT 1525763
Summary
3A Autographic Kodak Special camera, model B. 3A Autographic Kodak Special camera, model B 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 specific variant in question is 122 autographic which allows you to use the camera’s metal stylus to record information about the photograph you just took by opening the long window underneath the stylus holder on the rear panel of the camera and writing directly onto the margin of the negative via carbon transfer paper. The standard is mounted on a U shape metal bracket and can be raised and lower by means of a knurled metal knob. Like most early Kodak folding cameras, the lens on the 3A is quite modest: a simple anastigmat with a maximum aperture of f/6.3 and marked Bausch Lomb Kodak anastigmat F-6.3 No 4 pat Feb 24.03, 3055254. Around the lens Eastman Kodak Co, Rochester, NY USA. The camera is fitted with a Kodamatic shutter, shutter speed settings are Time, Bulb, 1/150, 1/100, 1/50, 1/25, 1/10, 1/5 and 1/2 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 a finger bracket in which is the camera number 16112. 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 is a list of patent dates for the US, Canada, Australia and Britain ranging from Sept 07 1909 through to Nov 08 1921. OTHER PATENTS PENDING There is a handle strap attached to the camera with the word KODAK and the pull down metal hinge when extended has the number 67200 on one side and KODAK on the other.
Makers and roles
Kodak, manufacturer