Antique & Vintage Photographic Equipment

No 1 Pocket Kodak Junior

Eastman Kodak Company

Name: No 1 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.
Production Period: 1929 - 1932 (US), 1930 - 1933 (UK)

The No 1 Pocket Kodak Junior was produced 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 1 Folding Pocket Kodak or the No 1 Kodak Junior.

The same format was made in the larger 116 film size as the No 1A Pocket Kodak Junior.

Model / Variant: Blue (US)
Plate / Film Size: 120 rollfilm
Lens: Meniscus achromatic
Shutter: Kodo No 0
Movements: None
Dimensions (w x h x l):  
Date of this Example: c1930
Serial Number: Serial 78556 on support stand
Availability:
  • Common [x]
  • Uncommon [ ]
  • Hard to Find [ ]
  • Scarce [ ]
Inventory Number: 126

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Description

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

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

Notes

The three coloured variants of the No 1 Pocket Kodak Junior were produced in the US by Eastman Kodak along with the black model, but the coloured variants were not produced in Europe; Kodak Ltd only manufactured 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. 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 too quickly. Note that 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.