Kodak Cartridge Premo

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The Cartridge Premo cameras are simple box cameras made by Eastman Kodak in the United States, from about 1916 until the early 20s. They take rollfilm (this is what cartridge refers to) rather than the film packs used by the Premo Junior box cameras of around the same time. Kodak also made Folding Cartridge Premo cameras in several sizes.

The smallest was the No.00 Cartridge Premo, pictured right, and was Kodak's smallest box camera. It is made from wood (the front panel) and cardboard, covered with leatherette. It measures only 2½×2×3 inches (height×width×depth). It has a simple rotary shutter with a single f/stop, a meniscus lens (behind the shutter) and no viewfinder (there is scarcely room). Instead, the top and one side of the camera have a V shape stamped into the leatherette to show the approximate angle of view.

The Kodak No.00 Cartridge Premo takes a No. 35 rollfilm (unperforated paper backed 35 mm film) which creates a 1¼×1¾ inch negative. The shutter has TIME and INSTANT settings.

It is interesting that Kodak still identified themselves as the successor to Rochester Optical Co., as shown in the pictures; Kodak bought Rochester Optical in 1903, more than a decade before this camera was first made. Clearly, the company had a reputation worth being associated with.


There were several larger models:[1]

  • The No. 2 Cartridge Premo (2¼×3¼ inch exposures on 120 film).
  • The No. 2A Cartridge Premo (2½×4¼ inch on 116 film), as pictured below.
  • The No. 2 Cartridge Premo (2⅞×4⅞ inch on 130 film).

These have portrait and landscape viewfinders.

References

  1. McKeown, James M. and Joan C. McKeown's Price Guide to Antique and Classic Cameras, 12th Edition, 2005-2006. USA, Centennial Photo Service, 2004. ISBN 0-931838-40-1 (hardcover). ISBN 0-931838-41-X (softcover). p514.


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