Camera Collection Update pt. four

Yesterday I added two new cameras to my ever growing collection. For those who are  interested, you can see the rest of my collection in previous posts here, here and here. Now for the new stuff hit the link to read more and as always click the photo to see a larger version…

I have actually been meaning to put together a camera collection update for a while now, since the last post I have acquired two light meters as well, with the addition of two new cameras yesterday I felt motivated to set up the table-top studio and shoot some stuff…

The Argus L3 Mark II circa 1960 made in West Germany. This is a basic match-needle incident or reflected meter. I purchased it a few months back at the local GoodWill for about $3.

Up next is a Weston Master Cine Exposure Meter circa 1941. This meter is for measuring light when shooting moving pictures, although this calculation can be applied to still photography too via a small formula. This was a christmas gift from my mother.

Moving on to the new cameras…

 The Kodak Bantam rangefinder camera circa 1938-1947. This little camera has two apertures, f/6.5 and f/11, the shutter speed is fixed and there is a bulb setting. Unfortunately the flip up viewfinder has broken off, I have the pieces but they are just that, pieces. It shoots Kodak 828 film, which is the same size as standard 35mm but in a roll film and without the sprocket holes. I am in the process of acquiring some spools so I can roll my own film and use this camera again…

The bellows seem to be in good working shape, I can’t wait to run some film through it and see. Original retail price for this camera was $8.50…

The back side. You can see the frame counter window as an orange circle in the middle of the camera body. This camera, like several others in my collection was a gift from my roommate, father. According to my roommate, John, his grandmother was an extreme horder, his father doesn’t care about this stuff and would rather give it to someone who will enjoy it.

Now for the really fun find…

A No. 1A Autographic Kodak Junior Camera circa 1914-1927. This funky old bellows camera takes 116 size film and was for a consumer market and had several unique features. Besides various shutter speeds, apertures and focusing ability, it took Kodak’s Autographic film…

On the back of the camera there is a hatch that opens near the film take up reel. The Autographic film had a thin piece of carbon paper between the film and backing paper. If you took the included stylus you could write something on the film through this window. The carbon paper would cause the backing paper to get tiny holes/tears in it and allow a small amount of light through to the film. This caused your message, or notes or subjects autograph to appear at the bottom margin of the negative and subsequently the print. Given the door style on this camera it is likely pre 1920.

A front view. There was a roll of film in this camera as well. Although not Autographic film, it was a roll of 116 Kodacolor, the precursor to Kodachrome and the first color film commercially available in the world. I am in contact with a lab in North Dakota that can possible develop the roll. Perhaps, friends and loyal readers, we will get to see some images from the 1950’s (which is likely how long this roll has been in the camera.)

It also came in a beautiful leather case…

Detail shot of the case. I love the Eastman Kodak Company logo on the latch.

Until next time please enjoy these classic cameras. I do…