Antique & Vintage Photographic Equipment

No 1A Pocket Kodak

Eastman Kodak Company

Name: No 1A Pocket Kodak
Type: Folding (rollfilm)
Manufacturer: Kodak Ltd
Country of Origin: United Kingdom
Construction: Conventional folding camera where the lens standard is pulled out on a track fixed to the baseboard. Autographic back with stylus held in clip on left side of lens standard. Brilliant finder at top right of lens standard. Fine vernier screw control for focus.
Production Period: 1929 - 1935

The No 1A Pocket Kodak was also available in a set of colours in the US only, in common with many other models in the late 1920s and early 1930s (refer to the No 1 Pocket Kodak page for examples).

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 Junior. There was also a Series II version of the camera, which is self-erecting like the Junior model!

Model / Variant: Black (UK)
Plate / Film Size: 116 rollfilm (autographic)
Lens: Kodak Anastigmat f6.3
Shutter: Kodex No 1
Movements: None
Dimensions (w x h x l):  
Date of this Example: c1933
Serial Number: Serial 530984 on support stand
Availability:
  • Common [x]
  • Uncommon [ ]
  • Hard to Find [ ]
  • Scarce [ ]
Inventory Number: 102

<Photographs to be added>

Description

UK model of the No 1A Pocket Kodak with autographic back (stylus missing from lens standard). The camera is generally in good condition (advertised as "barely used"), but sadly the bellows are split in several places. However it still manages to display quite well, though it does not stand close inspection.

The camera came in its original slip box, which is in good condition. The plain end is marked with the camera serial in pencil.

This version with the Kodak Anastigmat f/6.3 lens was made in the UK between 1931 and 1935 according to Coe [4].

Notes

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

There are several different variations of this camera, particularly in the US. According to Coe, a version with an iridescent leatherette covering was produced in 1929 and there are several lens variations.