Found in Rome

[harjac]

Hello Folks,

Saturday, just before leaving Rome I stumbled upon a little piazza called Piazza Borghese and found a small market where a lady was selling old cameras, those of you who have been to Rome must surely know the place ?

My wife offered me this camera ( I was allowed to choose) and I'm very curious about its functional details and anything anybody could be so kind to tell me!

Best regards from Belgium

Harold

[daveh]

Harold welcome. Others will know far more about the camera (and probably Rome) than I. I never realised that the exact patent date was on the front plate.

I've been a couple of times to Italy, but never quite made it to Rome. I have been to Belgium several times though!

Dave.

[photax]

Hi Harold !

All I could find is that the Kodak 3A Special Autographic had been produced from 1914 till 1924 in many variations: Filmtype 122 and 118, different lenses and shutters. I would date your camera around 1916, but I am not sure.

MIK

PS.: Mickey is right, just took a look in Brian Coe`s Kodak book:
produced from 1916 till 1937.

[mickeyobe]

harjac,

The No. 3A Autographic Kodak Special Model B was the first hand held camera with a coupled rangefinder.
I took pictures 3-1/4" x 5-1/2" on A122 Autographic film - long discontinued.
It was made between 1916 and 1933.
If I could see the complete information on the lens ring I could tell you what lens and shutter yours has and be more exact about its date of manufacture.
It is a splendid and impressive camera.

Its value according to McKeowns in 2006 was, depending upon condition, between $75 and $95 USD. I think it may be considerably more now.

I do have the owners' manual so if you need any more information just ask.

Mickey

[harjac]

Hello to all of you!

thanks for responding and Mickey's knowledge seems to be quite exhaustive!
I do have other pictures and I'll post them too.

Thanks

Best regards

Harold

[harjac]

sorry but can't find a way to add pictures ?

Harold

[daveh]

Harold, don't use the quick reply box but press reply which is a text tab at the bottom right of the previous post. Are you signed up to such as imageshack or photobucket? If so download and then use the direct link, copy and post between the [ img] [ /img] which pops up[ using the photo above (lower row, fourth from left). Alternatively use the Attachment - browsing your drive for the photo.

Dave.

[harjac]

close up of the lens

[mickeyobe]

Apr 26, 2012 13:48:23 GMT -5 harjac said:

close up of the lens

Grrreat.

Now let's see a photo of the entire lens ring and I'll see what more information I can wring out of McKeowns.

Mickey

[harjac]

OK, here it is!

Thanks

Harold

[mickeyobe]

Harold,

I have run out of sources but someone must have the answer.

All of those cameras had various models of f6.3 lenses from Kodak, Cooke, Bausch and Lombe Zeiss, Bauch and Lomb Kodak. No f4's.

The shutters were Optimo, Ilex and Kodamatic. No Kodak Automatic.

As you can see there were numerous variations and combinations but yours seems to be an anomaly.

I'm sorry I couldn't be of more help.

Mickey

[photax]

Hi !

I just had a look at Brian Coe`s Kodak-Book. Unfortunately your camera is not pictured there. I also found a lot of lens and shutter variations ( up to Compur ), but, as Mickey mentioned, no Kodak Automatic.

Sorry,
MIK

[harjac]

OK, so either I have a really special one or... have any fakes been reported ?

Thanks for all your help so far!

Harold