Kodak No3 Autographic Special

[Muggins]

I spotted one of these (http://historical-cameras.blogspot.com/2008/11/kodak-no3a-autographic-special.html) on a market stall yesterday and, frankly, I had to walk away before I bought it - I just don't have the space for something that big. Externally it was in beautiful condition, a really good spec (f4.5 Tessar in a dial-set Compur), internally less so as someone had added a blanking plate and a pressure plate to allow it to use 120. Possibly an unfinished project as it had no hole added for a red window?

So... Has anyone out on RFF got one of these? As the first camera with a coupled rangefinder they certainly have historical value, although the small-paperback negative format is a bit unwieldy!

Adrian

 

[venchka]

I haven't tried using the cameras. A friend and I do use the lenses from earlier No. 2A Autographics on 4x5 cameras. The lenses Wes and I use are quite nice actually. Wes has a 170mm Kodak Anastigmat and I have a 6" Bausch & Lomb Rapid Rectilinear that Wes kindly gave me. The Tessar that you saw is probably a gem of a lens. Carol Miller (Flutot's Camera Repair) can probably perform a CLA on the shutter. Carol does first rate work at very reasonable prices.

How much do they want for the camera? If the price is right & you don't want it, I might like to have it.

 

[Al Patterson]

I have two of those that my father had when I was a kid. I actually used one briefly back in the early 1970s. My father had bought a dozen of the last rolls of the film Kodak produced for this in 1970 or so.

 

[nikon_sam]

Not the No.3 but I do have a No.1 Pocket Kodak...as far as the appearance of the one I have it's in great shape...It came in it's original case...the only thing missing is the stylus..this camera saw very little use...
I would love to see what this camera would produce...The negative image size looks like it would be 2 1/2 x 4 1/4...

 

[Al Patterson]

Not the No.3 but I do have a No.1 Pocket Kodak...as far as the appearance of the one I have it's in great shape...It came in it's original case...the only thing missing is the stylus..this camera saw very little use...
I would love to see what this camera would produce...The negative image size looks like it would be 2 1/2 x 4 1/4...

The one I have produces 3 by 5 negatives, which were printed as contact prints. Most of those are at my sister's house in California.

 

[nikon_sam]

Al,

The camera uses 116 roll film (something I've never seen) and the numbers I gave would be the actual size of the image area not including the borders surrounding the image so this could have the same size negs as yours...
I could see how contact prints would be good enough for viewing...
It's a big camera and how they came up with the name "Pocket" I haven't a clue...
I was also thinking of loading the camera with photo paper just to check out how sharp these images could be...I did this with another camera and got interesting results...

 

[venchka]

"Pocket camera" is relative. Compared to a whole plate, 8x10, mammoth plate, or even a 4x5 field camera, these things are relatively small.

 

[Al Patterson]

Al,

The camera uses 116 roll film (something I've never seen) and the numbers I gave would be the actual size of the image area not including the borders surrounding the image so this could have the same size negs as yours...
I could see how contact prints would be good enough for viewing...
It's a big camera and how they came up with the name "Pocket" I haven't a clue...
I was also thinking of loading the camera with photo paper just to check out how sharp these images could be...I did this with another camera and got interesting results...

There seem to be more than one version of this camera. Mine says "Use autographic film No. A-122, and is a "Model C". It also has a different lens.

 

[nikon_sam]

This is what I can find on the camera to describe the model...

No.1-A Pocket Kodak
Shutter Speeds T B 25 50 Kodex
Aperture Markings f/7.9 11 16 22 32 45
Lens Kodar 131mm
Film A116
Focusing Scale (Marked in Feet & Meters) 6, 8, 10, 15, 25, 100 Feet
2, 2.5, 3, 5, 8, 30 Meters
It does have the window on the back for writing notes on the film, but unfortunately it is missing the Stylus for writing these notes.
I just now found this and it might be the Serial Number (505289)...it is stamped behind the little metal foot on the front cover...
I also have the Carrying Case for it...
I found this camera at an Antique Swap Meet while I was working in Rochester, Minnesota...
I also bought a Sekonic Leader De Luxe (Model L-8) meter from the same guy...I might have paid $10-15 for both items...the meter came with the Plug-In Amplifier, incident reading cover, case, lanyard and box...(the Lanyard is unused and still has the plastic band on it)
Original Price Tag on the box reads...$5.25

 

[Al Patterson]

I also found a Kodak Junior Six-20 that uses 620 film, which can be still found. I may just get some of that re-spooled 120 film and give it a try at some point.

 

[nikon_sam]

I wanted to try a few old Brownies that use 620 so I went ahead a respooled some 120 film...All you need to start is two 620 reels use one to respool with and the second for the take up reel...there are a few sites tha show you how to do it right...keeping the film and backing tight is key...and then re-tape the lead edge when you get to it...