Vest Pocket Kodak
Vest Pocket Kodak Autographic Special, 1916-23 Vest Pocket Autographic Kodak, 1917-26 Vest Pocket Kodak model B, 1925-34 Vest Pocket Kodak Special, 1926-35 image by Bill Strong (Image rights) |
The Vest Pocket Kodak cameras were a best-selling folding camera series made by Eastman Kodak (Rochester), from 1912 to 1935. They were the first cameras to use the smaller 127 film reels. "Hawk-Eye" versions of the Vest Pocket Kodaks were premium models, and the "Special" models had more sophisticated lens/shutter combinations. A special Vest Pocket wooden development tank for the typIe 127 rollfilm was available from Kodak, as well as a special Vest Pocket enlarging camera.
Vest Pocket Kodak (1912-1914)
This is the original model and doesn't have the Autographic feature which was added to create the later models. It had to be loaded through the top, inserting both film spools at once with the film stretched between them. It had the small three-blade variant of Kodak's Ball Bearing Shutter No.0. Folded it was really handsome, not bigger than many modern compact cameras. Hidden behind its lens board was its brilliant finder. A strut folding variant had a f/6.8 72mm achromatic meniscus lens, hidden behind a mask that allowed a maximum aperture of f/11.
Vest Pocket Autographic Kodak (1915-1926)
VPK Autographic image by Tony Kemplen (Image rights) |
The Vest Pocket Autographic Kodak was the version advertised in the U.S.A. as the "Soldier's camera" during World War I. It was very successful, selling 1,750,000 units. It was of the compact strut folding type and had the meniscus lens or a U.S.-speed 8 Rapid Rectilinear lens.
The camera back had an area through which notes could be written onto the paper backing of the 127 film, the "autographic" feature - invented by Henry J. Gaisman.
Vest Pocket Autographic Kodak Special (1915-1926)
These models were equipped with selected f/6.9 and f/7.7 lenses by Kodak, Bausch & Lomb, Zeiss, Ross, Berthiot or Cooke, mainly with the Kodak Anastigmat f/7.7 lens. The most sought-after is the focusing Zeiss Tessar f/4.9 version with a 8 speed Compur shutter.
Vest Pocket Kodak Model B (1925-1934)
VPK model B image by AWCam (Image rights) |
This was a quite different camera; a primitive folding bed camera for making 4×6.5cm exposures on 127 film. It was also marketed as Boy Scout Kodak and Girl Scout Kodak with new front plate designs by Walter Dorwin Teague. A colored version was branded Kodak Petite. Its lens was a doublet in a rotary shutter, or a Kodak Periscopic lens in a Kodak shutter. The lens typically had four apertures, set by a thumb-wheel on the side of the shutter block, and numbered 1-4.
The Model B had to be loaded through the front side, after removing the whole bed and bellows unit. It was produced from 1925 to 1934 and cost $7.50. It had the "autographic" feature.
Vest Pocket Kodak Series III (1926-1934)
This model appears to be styled like and work similar to a Model B but has Kodex or Diomatic shutter with more speeds, an aperture selector in f-stops and a screw thread focusing system. This model was also the basis for the coloured art deco Kodak Petite and Coquette versions designed by Walter Dorwin Teague.
Vest Pocket Kodak Special (1926-1935)
This model is the replacement for the previous VPK Autographic Special models using the bed style of the Model B but has better shutters and faster lenses.
The Vest Pocket Kodak and the Mount Everest Mystery
Two climbers, George Mallory and Andrew Irvine, lost on Everest in 1924, may have been the first to reach the summit. Another member of the expedition has been quoted as saying that he had loaned his Kodak VPK camera to Mallory as they passed each other on the north ridge. There are and extensive efforts underway using current technology to locate Irvine's body and perhaps, the camera.
Images
Vest Pocket Kodak, Model B with Kodak Periscopic lens image by Rick Zolla (Image rights) |
Model B (Autographic) image by John Nuttall (Image rights) |
VPK Series III image by Tony Kemplen (Image rights) |
VPK Autographic c.1921 image by Geoff Harrisson (Image rights) |
Vest Pocket Kodak on Kodak catalogue pages, 1918 scans courtesy Mario Groleau (Image rights) | Ad for Special in Kodakery |
Links
- Vest Pocket Kodak, Model B, Series III, and Kodak manuals on Mischa Koning's site.
- Vest Pocket Manual and Model B manual at Michael Butkus' Orphan cameras.
- The Vest Pocket Kodak — development and specification of these classic cameras
- The Vest Pocket Kodak—Types
- Vest Pocket Kodak and Vest Pocket Autographic Kodak on cosmonet.org
- Vest Pocket Kodak Autographic Special on geg.org
- Vest Pocket Kodak Model B on nwmangum.com
- Vest Pocket Autographic and Crystal Japan, Vest Pocket B, Vest pocket serie III, Vest pocket manual and Vest pocket autographic manual at collection-appareils.fr
- Vest Pocket Kodak Autographic at Classic Cameras by RaúlM.