No 1A Pocket Kodak Junior

Eastman Kodak Company

Name:	No 1A Pocket Kodak Junior
Type:	Folding (Rollfilm)
Manufacturer:	Eastman Kodak Company
Country of Origin:	US
Construction:	Self erecting folding camera where the lens standard is automatically pulled out to the infinity position and locked in place. Brilliant finder at top right of lens standard.
Plate / Film Size:	116 rollfilm for pictures 2½" x 4¼"
Lens:	Meniscus achromatic
Shutter:	Kodo No 1
Movements:	None
Dimensions (w x h x l):
Production Period:	1929 - 1932 (US); 1930 - 1936 (UK). See below

The No 1 Pocket Kodak Junior was in a set of colours, in common with many other models in the late 1920s and early 1930s. This particular camera was available in blue, brown & green but only in the US. It was only made in black in the UK.

Note the need to be precise about the name of the camera: avoid confusion with the No 1A Folding Pocket Kodak or the No 1A Pocket Kodak.

The same format was made in the smaller 120 film size as the No 1 Pocket Kodak Junior.

Model / Variant:	Blue
Date of this Example:	c1929
Serial Number:	Serial 3033
Availability:	Common  Uncommon  Hard to Find  Scarce
Inventory Number:	127

<Photographs to be added>

Description

No 1A Pocket Kodak Junior camera finished in blue leatherette, with leather case in matching blue finish. The case is in good condition with blue cloth lining, although the canvas strap is broken.

The camera is generally in very good condition, though the handle is showing signs of wear. The metal work is a little tarnished.

The bellows intact (original blue) although they are very dry and are starting to separate inside.

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Model / Variant:	Green
Date of this Example:	c1931
Serial Number:	Serial TBC
Availability:	Common  Uncommon  Hard to Find  Scarce
Inventory Number:	145

<Photographs to be added>

Description

No 1A Pocket Kodak Junior camera finished in green leatherette, with leather case in matching green finish.

The camera is generally in very good condition, though the original handle is missing, with a DIY replacement. The nickel plated metal work remains bright. Some wear to the body, particularly on the corners of the painted edges.

The bellows are intact (original green) although they are very dry and are starting to separate inside. The shutter still fires ok. The camera is very difficult to open as the main side supports are slightly buckled.

I have recorded this in my database as a Model B, but cannot now reconcile that against the data in Coe. Further investigation required once I rescue the camera from its hiding place! Possibly a UK model?

Notes

The three coloured variants of the No 1A Pocket Kodak Junior were produced in the US by Eastman Kodak but were not available in Europe; Kodak Ltd only produced the black version.

According to Coe, a version with an iridescent leatherette covering was produced in the UK from 1930 - 1931 before reverting to a more conventional leather finish. Note that the black version of the No 1A Pocket Kodak Junior was produced in the UK until 1936, whereas production of the smaller No 1 Pocket Kodak Junior ceased in 1933. The 116 film size became quite popular in the UK and Europe, arguably rather more so than it did in the US who seemed to favour the 120 rollfilm size.

There are several lens and shutter variations.

Be wary of the sprung self-erecting mechanism as it can cause irreparable damage to the bellows if it is allowed to spring open to quickly. The coloured versions were originally produced with matching coloured bellows, but you may well find examples with replacement black bellows. The coloured bellows tend to be much more fragile than their black counterparts.

Note that the No 1A Gift Kodak styled by Walter Dorwin Teague is a beautiful variant of this same camera.