Vest Pocket Kodak Model B Camera
Eastman Kodak Company and Kodak Limited
| Name: | Vest Pocket Kodak Model B |
| Manufacturer: | Eastman Kodak Co. |
| Country of Origin: | USA |
| Construction: | Conventional folding bed camera for 127 film. The
complete folding section, including the bed, is formed as a single
piece that then fits into the rollfilm back. The two have to be
separated to load and remove the film. The camera had an autographic back until 1932 and was fitted with several different lenses during the extended production period in the US. Concealed buttons on the sides of the body were used to release the back on early models, but from 1928 a sliding latch was used. |
| Plate / Film Size: | 127 rollfilm |
| Lens: | Meniscus lens is most common, but variants exist (see examples below) |
| Shutter: | V.P. Rotary |
| Movements: | None |
| Dimensions (w x h x d): | 6.2 x 12.5 x 2.3 cms (closed) |
| Production Period: | 1925 - 1934 |
The Vest Pocket Kodak Model B was introduced in the US in late 1925 to take over from the vastly successful Model A of strut design. It was discontinued in the US in 1934. It was also supplied by Kodak Ltd for the European market and manufactured in the UK from 1931 to 1933.
| Model / Variant: | US Model (but sold in the UK) |
| Lens: | Meniscus |
| Date of this Example: | c1928 |
| Serial Number: | Faceplate identifier 27323 (designated U-01a in Jay Kay's system due to other early features). Camera itself is not serialised. |
| Availability: |
|
| Inventory Number: | 286 |
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Description
Vest Pocket Kodak Model B finished in the black iridescent finish. This is believed to be a model made in the US but sold in the UK by Kodak Ltd. It has its original box and instructions, the latter being UK version produced Kodak Ltd.
The baseboard went through a series of design changes that help date particular examples, as described in Coe [4]. This example has a 'scalloped' design on the baseboard and has concealed buttons to release the back, dating it to 1926 - 1928.
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| Model / Variant: | US Model (but sold in the UK) |
| Lens: | Meniscus |
| Date of this Example: | c1930 |
| Serial Number: | Faceplate identifier 27323 (designated U-01a in Jay Kay's system due to other early features). Camera itself is not serialised. |
| Availability: |
|
| Inventory Number: | 658 |
Description
Vest Pocket Kodak Model B finished in the black iridescent finish. This is likely another example that was made in the US but sold in the UK by Kodak Ltd. It has its original box but no instructions. This is the later pattern with the more common sliding latch to retain the two main body components together. This dates it to the sometime in the period from 1928 to 1932, when the autographic feature was removed.
An infinity latch takes the form of a slot cut into the slider rail, with a catch attached to the lens standard.
The photographs below compare the concealed button release mechanism used on the early example (#286) with the more common release slider mechanism that replaced it in late 1928.
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| Model / Variant: | US Model with Kodak Periscopic Lens |
| Lens: | Kodak Periscopic |
| Date of this Example: | c1928 |
| Serial Number: | Faceplate identifier 33287 (designated U-03 in Jay Kay's system). Camera itself is not serialised. |
| Availability: |
|
| Inventory Number: | 634 |
Description
This variant of the Vest Pocket Kodak Model B was introduced in September 1928 according to Jay Kay [12] and certainly first appears in the 1928 Mini December catalogue. This example is the autographic version, and this feature was dropped in late 1929 according to the same sources.
The faceplate identifier is 33287 (designated U-03 in Jay Kay's system). The Periscopic lens was renamed the Doublet lens in 1931. The fact that this camera is fitted with the Kodak Periscopic lens is identified explicitly on the U-03 faceplate, and is identified on both the box and the front of the manual. The lens aperture is marked out using the Unified System (U.S.) as f/8 to f/64.
The body is finished in the black iridescent covering and is fitted with the sliding release for the camera back.
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| Model / Variant: | US Model with Kodak Doublet Lens |
| Lens: | Kodak Doublet |
| Date of this Example: | c1932 |
| Serial Number: | Faceplate identifier 27323 (designated U-04 in Jay Kay's system). Camera itself is not serialised. |
| Availability: |
|
| Inventory Number: | 650 |
Description
This variant of the VPK Model B was introduced in 1932 and made until 1934 according to Coe [4]. The Periscopic lens was renamed the Doublet lens in September 1931 according to Jay Kay [12]. It first appears in the 1932-33 catalogue in Charlie Kamerman's catalogue set, and is still listed in the 1934-35 catalogue, but not therafter. This example is the non-autographic version of the VPK, this feature having been dropped in late 1929 according to the same sources.
The faceplate identifier is 27323 (designated U-04 in Jay Kay's system). The Periscopic lens was renamed the Doublet lens in 1931. The fact that this camera is fitted with the Kodak Doublet lens is identified explicitly on the lens surround rather than on the faceplate, and is also identified on the box front and end. The lens aperture is marked out using the Unified System (U.S.) as f/8 to f/64.
The body is finished in the black iridescent covering and is fitted with the sliding release for the camera back.
The photograhp below shows the three different lens variants side by side.
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| Model / Variant: | UK Model |
| Lens: | Meniscus |
| Date of this Example: | c1932 |
| Serial Number: | Faceplate identifier 99147 (designated B-03 in Jay Kay's system). Camera itself is not serialised. |
| Availability: |
|
| Inventory Number: | 626 |
Description
This is an example of the Vest Pocket Kodak Model B manufactured by Kodak Limited in the UK from 1931 to 1933. The black enamel face plate carries the following label "Vest Pocket Kodak Model B Made in Great Britain by Kodak Ltd London", all in capitals and split across three lines.
The camera is finished in the black iridescent covering. The autographic stylus is still present; the autographic feature only appeared until 1932, so this must be a relatively early UK model.
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| Model / Variant: | US Model (but sold in the UK) in green |
| Lens: | Meniscus |
| Date of this Example: | c1928 |
| Serial Number: | Faceplate identifier 27323 (designated U-02 in Jay Kay's system due to other features. Camera does not carry a serial number. |
| Availability: |
|
| Inventory Number: | 619 |
Description
Vest Pocket Kodak Model B finished in green material. The body metalwork that frames the inset on the outer face of the baseboard is finished in black enamel.
The suggested date of this example has been determined based on data in Jay Kay's Guide [12], where the configuration matches the U-02 autographic (27323 on face plate; bed design BB5, view finder A, bed brace B, sliding lock).
It has its original box and instructions, the latter produced for Kodak Ltd, and in good condition. The front face and the end of the inner section both carry a green coloured roundel, printed with the word "Green". It is not yet known whether any other colours were produced - I have seen several examples in this finish but no other colour to date.
The camera is in good condition, as is the box. The autographic stylus is present (often missing).
Notes
When looking for a good example, check the condition of the black enamelled metal edge work. This can often chip and may also show signs of rust, which can detract from its quality as a display item.
There are many variations in the design of the Vest Pocket Kodak Model B. Only a few of the major model variants are shown on this page. There are many other versions, albeit that the variations might be less obvious such as different faceplate designs, variations in the pattern shown on the inside of the baseboard, differences in the pattern of the back and so on. If one had a mind to do so, it would be possible to build up a substantial collection of VPKs simply by trying to find examples of all the permutations!
By way of example, the set of photos below show different designs of the baseboard from within my collection, but again you may encounter other patterns.
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The photo below shows three different patterns of camera back, showing autographic and non-autogaphic, and with and without the film size marking (there are other variants).
The later model with sliding latch was adapted to produce a number of special versions such as the UK Girl Guide Kodak and UK Boy Scout camera, as well as US equivalents US Girl Scout and US Boy Scout. It was also adapted in the US as the basis for the very attractive and highly collectible Kodak Petite cameras.