Vest Pocket Kodak

1912

Non Autographic model

Eastman Kodak Co.

Rochester

USA

Image of Vest Pocket Kodak Non Autographic model

Lens:

Meniscus, iris diaphragm scaled 1 - 4.

Shutter:

Ball Bearing, three-blade leaf type, speeds 1/25, 1/50, B, T. Autotime settings.

Construction:

Black painted body, leather bellows.

Format:

8, 1 ⅝" x 2 ½" exposures on 127 roll-film.

Focusing:

Fixed.

Attributes:

Brilliant view-finder.
Film advance indicated by red window.

Identification:

Patent of 1902 on camera front.

Serial Number:

126329 .

Vest Pocket Kodak

Early Autographic model

1915

Eastman Kodak Co.

Rochester

USA

Image of Vest Pocket Kodak Early Autographic model

Lens:

Meniscus, iris diaphragm scaled 1 - 4.

Shutter:

Ball Bearing, three-blade leaf type, speeds 1/25, 1/50, B, T. Autotime settings. Type 12534.

Construction:

Black painted body, leather bellows.

Format:

8, 1 ⅝" x 2 ½" exposures on 127 roll-film.

Focusing:

Fixed.

Attributes:

Brilliant view-finder.
Film advance indicated by red window. Autographic feature.

Identification:

Patents of 1902 and 1913.

Serial Number:

595360 .

Notes:

Inscription on case: R.E.B. 26-10-17.

With:

Close-up lens. Colour filter with instructions. Autographic film. Instruction book. Negative album for 100 exposures. Case.

Vest Pocket Kodak

Early Autographic model

Eastman Kodak Co.

Rochester

USA

Lens:

Meniscus, iris diaphragm scaled 1 - 4.

Shutter:

Ball Bearing, three-blade leaf type, speeds 1/25, 1/50, B, T. Autotime settings.

Construction:

Black painted body, leather bellows.

Format:

8, 1 ⅝" x 2 ½" exposures on 127 roll-film.

Focusing:

Fixed.

Attributes:

Brilliant view-finder.
Film advance indicated by red window. Autographic feature.

Identification:

Patents of 1902 and 1913.

Serial Number:

894525 .

With:

Tripod adapter, instructions, box.
Case.

Vest Pocket Kodak

Autographic model

Model of 1920

Eastman Kodak Co.

Rochester

USA

Image of Vest Pocket Kodak Autographic model

Lens:

f8, rapid rectilinear. Iris diaphragm scaled in US 8, 16, 32.

Shutter:

Ball Bearing, three-blade leaf type, speeds 1/25, 1/50, B, T. Type 17982.

Construction:

Black crackle finish painted body, cloth bellows.

Format:

8, 1 ⅝" x 2 ½" exposures on 127 roll-film.

Focusing:

Fixed.

Attributes:

Brilliant view-finder.
Film advance indicated by red window. Autographic feature.

Identification:

Patents of 1917.

Serial Number:

1385788 .

With:

Case.

Vest Pocket Kodak

Autographic Special

Model of 1916

Eastman Kodak Co.

Rochester

USA

Image of Vest Pocket Kodak Autographic Special

Lens:

f7.7, 84 mm Kodak Anastigmat, iris diaphragm to f32. Serial no. 214001 .

Shutter:

Ball Bearing, three-blade leaf type, speeds 1/25, 1/50, B, T. Autotime settings. Type 15290.

Construction:

Leather covered metal body, cloth bellows.

Format:

8, 1 ⅝" x 2 ½" exposures on 127 roll-film.

Focusing:

Fixed.

Attributes:

Brilliant view-finder.
Film advance indicated by red window. Autographic feature.

Identification:

Patents of 1917.

Serial Number:

184485 .

With:

Box. Close-up lens, No. 8. Case.

Vest Pocket Kodak

Autographic Special

Canadian Kodak Co.

Toronto

Canada

Lens:

f6.8, Ross Homocentric, iris diaphragm to f32. Serial no. 92390 (c. 1919).

Shutter:

Ball Bearing, three-blade leaf type, speeds 1/25, 1/50, B, T. Autotime settings.

Construction:

Leather covered metal body, leather bellows.

Format:

8, 1 ⅝" x 2 ½" exposures on 127 roll-film.

Focusing:

Fixed.

Attributes:

Brilliant view-finder.
Film advance indicated by red window. Autographic feature.

Serial Number:

36380 .

With:

Stylus. Case.

Vest Pocket Kodak

Autographic Special

Canadian Kodak Co.

Toronto

Canada

Lens:

f6.8, Ross Homocentric, iris diaphragm to f32. Serial no. 92283 (c. 1919).

Shutter:

Ball Bearing, three-blade leaf type, speeds 1/25, 1/50, B, T. Autotime settings.

Construction:

Leather covered metal body, cloth bellows.

Format:

8, 1 ⅝" x 2 ½" exposures on 127 roll-film.

Focusing:

Fixed.

Attributes:

Brilliant view-finder.
Film advance indicated by red window. Autographic feature.

Serial Number:

54331 .

With:

Stylus.

Vest Pocket Kodak

Autographic Special

Eastman Kodak Co.

Rochester

USA

Lens:

f6.5, Focusing Cooke, iris diaphragm to f32. Serial no. 80866 .

Shutter:

Ball Bearing, three-blade leaf type, speeds 1/25, 1/50, B, T. Autotime settings.

Construction:

Leather covered metal body, leather bellows.

Format:

8, 1 ⅝" x 2 ½" exposures on 127 roll-film.

Focusing:

To 2 ½ yards.

Attributes:

Brilliant view-finder.
Film advance indicated by red window. Autographic feature.

Identification:

Patents of 1913.

Serial Number:

54549 .

With:

Case.

Vest Pocket Kodak

Autographic Special

Eastman Kodak Co.

Rochester

USA

Lens:

f6.9, Focusing Cooke, iris diaphragm to f32. Serial no. 87222 .

Shutter:

Ball Bearing, three-blade leaf type, speeds 1/25, 1/50, B, T. Autotime settings.

Construction:

Leather covered metal body, leather bellows.

Format:

8, 1 ⅝" x 2 ½" exposures on 127 roll-film.

Focusing:

To 2 ½ yards.

Attributes:

Brilliant view-finder.
Film advance indicated by red window. Autographic feature.

Identification:

Patents of 1913.

Serial Number:

145477 .

With:

Stylus. Case.

Vest Pocket Kodak

Autographic Special

Canadian Kodak Co.

Toronto

Canada

Lens:

f6.5, Focusing Cooke, iris diaphragm to f32. Serial no. 43233 .

Shutter:

Ball Bearing, three-blade leaf type, speeds 1/25, 1/50, B, T. Autotime settings.

Construction:

Leather covered metal body, leather bellows.

Format:

8, 1 ⅝" x 2 ½" exposures on 127 roll-film.

Focusing:

To 2 ½ yards.

Attributes:

Brilliant view-finder.
Film advance indicated by red window. Autographic feature.

Serial Number:

268309 .

With:

Stylus

Vest Pocket Kodak

Autographic Special

Eastman Kodak Co.

Rochester

USA

Lens:

f4.9, 9cm Zeiss Tessar, iris diaphragm to f32. Serial no. 650244 .

Shutter:

Dial-set Compur, speeds 1 - 1/300, B, T. Serial no. 795659.

Construction:

Leather covered metal body, cloth bellows.

Format:

8, 1 ⅝" x 2 ½" exposures on 127 roll-film.

Focusing:

Front-cell to 3.5 feet.

Attributes:

Brilliant view-finder.
Film advance indicated by red window. Autographic feature.

Identification:

The lens dates to c. 1925. Patents of 1917.

Serial Number:

252100 .

With:

Stylus.

Vest Pocket Kodak

Autographic special

Canadian Kodak Co.

Toronto

Canada

Lens:

f6.9, 84 mm Kodak Anastigmat, iris diaphragm to f32. Serial no. 29289 .

Shutter:

Ball Bearing, three-blade leaf type, speeds 1/25, 1/50, B, T. Autotime settings. Type 16140.

Construction:

Leather covered metal body, leather bellows.

Format:

8, 1 ⅝" x 2 ½" exposures on 127 roll-film.

Focusing:

Front-cell to 3 ½ feet.

Attributes:

Brilliant view-finder.
Film advance indicated by red window. Autographic feature.

Identification:

This model dates to 1921.

Serial Number:

239613 .

With:

Case.

Vest Pocket Kodak

Autographic model

Canadian Kodak Co.

Toronto

Canada

Lens:

Meniscus, iris diaphragm scaled 1 - 4.

Shutter:

Ball Bearing, three-blade leaf type, speeds 1/25, 1/50, B, T. Type 16870.

Construction:

Black crackle finish painted body, leather bellows.

Format:

8, 1 ⅝" x 2 ½" exposures on A127 roll-film.

Focusing:

Fixed.

Attributes:

Brilliant view-finder.
Film advance indicated by red window. Autographic feature.

Identification:

Patents to 1921.

Serial Number:

1722896 .

With:

Case.

Vest Pocket Kodak

Autographic model

Canadian Kodak Co.

Toronto

Canada

Lens:

Meniscus, iris diaphragm scaled 1 - 4.

Shutter:

Ball Bearing, three-blade leaf type, speeds 1/25, 1/50, B, T. Autotime settings. Type 15288.

Construction:

Black crackle finish painted body, cloth bellows.

Format:

8, 1 ⅝" x 2 ½" exposures on A127 roll-film.

Focusing:

Fixed.

Attributes:

Brilliant view-finder.
Film advance indicated by red window. Autographic feature.

Identification:

Patents to 1921.

Serial Number:

1601937 .

With:

Case.

One of the most popular cameras made, nearly 2 million being produced.

Four distinct models were made with a number of lens variants:

V.P.K., Non-autographic. 1912 - 1914. This was fitted with either a meniscus achromat or an f8 Kodak Anastigmat. The finish was smooth black paint. A Ball Bearing shutter was fitted.
V.P.K. Special, Non-autographic. 1912 - 1914. This has a better lens than the V.P.K. including Zeiss Tessars and T.T.H. for the UK market.
VP Autographic Kodak. 1915 - 1926. Similar to the earlier model but with the autographic feature. Lenses were meniscus achromat, f7.7 K. Anastigmat or an f8 rapid rectilinear. The finish was smooth black until 1920 when a crackle finish was introduced.
VP Autographic Kodak Special. 1915 - 1926. These are leather covered and have better lenses than the ordinary model. Some models had lenses in focusing mounts, mostly the Ball Bearing shutter was used but a Compur was fitted on some models.

References & Notes:

Kodak Cat. 1915, p. 7. BJA 1913, p. 743. BJA 1915, pp. 85, 904. BJA 1925, p. 23. BJA 1926, p. 23. Coe, Kodak Cameras, p. 170.

Further Information:

Photographica World no. 82 has an article on V.P.K. escutcheon plates.

Company Details:

Kodak

Early Photography

Vest Pocket Kodak

1912

Non Autographic model

Eastman Kodak Co.

Rochester

USA

Lens:

Shutter:

Construction:

Format:

Focusing:

Attributes:

Identification:

Serial Number:

Vest Pocket Kodak

Early Autographic model

1915

Eastman Kodak Co.

Rochester

USA

Lens:

Shutter:

Construction:

Format:

Focusing:

Attributes:

Identification:

Serial Number:

Notes:

With:

Vest Pocket Kodak

Early Autographic model

Eastman Kodak Co.

Rochester

USA

Lens:

Shutter:

Construction:

Format:

Focusing:

Attributes:

Identification:

Serial Number:

With:

Vest Pocket Kodak

Autographic model

Model of 1920

Eastman Kodak Co.

Rochester

USA

Lens:

Shutter:

Construction:

Format:

Focusing:

Attributes:

Identification:

Serial Number:

With:

Vest Pocket Kodak

Autographic Special

Model of 1916

Eastman Kodak Co.

Rochester

USA

Lens:

Shutter:

Construction:

Format:

Focusing:

Attributes:

Identification:

Serial Number:

With:

Vest Pocket Kodak

Autographic Special

Canadian Kodak Co.

Toronto

Canada