Vest Pocket Kodak - Antique and Vintage Cameras

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

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.

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

Image of Vest Pocket Kodak Autographic Special

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

Image of Vest Pocket Kodak Autographic Special

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

Image of Vest Pocket Kodak Autographic Special

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

Image of Vest Pocket Kodak Autographic Special

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

Image of Vest Pocket Kodak Autographic special

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

Image of Vest Pocket Kodak Autographic model

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.


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