Kodak 3A "folding pocket camera": Bought this at a grage sale eariler in the year.... Really, what i am asking is is "rare" and is it valuable? The shutter seems to be operating OK...

SqBear Loc: Kansas, (South Central)

Bought this at a grage sale eariler in the year....
Really, what i am asking is is "rare" and is it valuable?

The shutter seems to be operating OK, the slide is OK, just a bit sticky perhaps, but works. The bellows appear to be in good shape, no leaks or holes or tears.

Photo 2 & 3 the view finder... the cover does open and function properlt. I do not know what the small "cup" beside the view finder is. It appears o have a small bb that would cover a pin hole in the bottom .. perhaps if it were level? however, I cannot get the bb to move around in the cup continer.

There are three patent dates stamped inside the back cover; December 8, 1898, October 8, 1901 and January 21, 1902.

Have not done any research as i felt you guys would have a pretty good idea if pursuit needs to be advanced.

Thanks!!

Opened and sorta leveled

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Straight on

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Close up of lens, front, etc.

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rjaywallace Loc: Wisconsin

Check out details via Google and Wikipedia. This example seems in fair condition based on the photos, but it's not all that rare. I wonder what would happen if you ran some film thru it. Thanks for sharing and best of luck.

SqBear Loc: Kansas, (South Central)

rjaywallace wrote:

Check out details via Google and Wikipedia. This example seems in fair condition based on the photos, but it's not all that rare. I wonder what would happen if you ran some film thru it. Thanks for sharing and best of luck.

Thanks rjaywallace for the reply.
Don't know... i'll see if i can get some film and try it.

And I will check out Google and Wikipedia too!

Dave

John_F Loc: Minneapolis, MN

That camera was one of Kodaks first mass oroduced cameras. I have my dad's Autographic stored away. It is not rare. There is a Wikipedia pages on Kodak cameras, I seem to recall.

SqBear Loc: Kansas, (South Central)

John_F wrote:

That camera was one of Kodaks first mass oroduced cameras. I have my dad's Autographic stored away. It is not rare. There is a Wikipedia pages on Kodak cameras, I seem to recall.

Thanks John_F.
I'm heading towards searching Wikipedia.
:lol: :thumbup: :thumbup:

oldtigger Loc: Roanoke Virginia-USA

SqBear wrote:

Bought this at a grage sale eariler in the year....
Really, what i am asking is is "rare" and is it valuable?...

its in the $100 range

PhotoMan1929 Loc: Virginia, USA

SqBear wrote:

Bought this at a grage sale eariler in the year....
Really, what i am asking is is "rare" and is it valuable?

The shutter seems to be operating OK, the slide is OK, just a bit sticky perhaps, but works. The bellows appear to be in good shape, no leaks or holes or tears.

The lens is a Rapid Rectilinear, a fairly simple four element doublet popular in the late 1800s before anastigmats came into general use. Do not be fooled by the aperture numbers - those shown are U.S. numbers not F numbers. US4 is equivalent to F/8. US 8 is equivalent to F/11 and so on. Most likely, the alcohol has evaporated out of the bubble level. What you thought was a bubble is an aiming mark which is part of the enclosure. The bubble itself is long gone. The single shutter speed is about 1/25 second, IF it still works properly. I have several old shutters of similar type in my collection and they do not operate well.

PixelStan77 Loc: Vermont/Chicago

I was a Kodak camera collector for many years. I don't have my price guides any more but if I recall it is work around $25.00, It is not rare. Mass produced. It would be fun to run film through it. Check Freestyle in California
for film.
http://www.freestylephoto.biz/

John_F Loc: Minneapolis, MN

To check the bellows; extend the front all the way, take of the back, and shine a bright flashlight inside and be in a darkened room. Watch for pinhole light leaks along the creases.

corryhully Loc: liverpool uk

PhotoMan1929 wrote:

The lens is a Rapid Rectilinear, a fairly simple f... (show quote)

that is interesting photoman. i had not known that about the u.s numbers.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

I have a similar one from my grandfather. Look on ebay, and you'll probably see that yours isn't very valuable, either.

Here's what they've actually sold for.

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_sacat=0&_nkw=Kodak%203A&LH_Complete=1&LH_Sold=1&rt=nc&_trksid=p2045573.m1684

SirNorsky

I've got one of those! Only mine is light blue. I believe it was my Great Grandfathers. Nifty little piece of equipment. No, I've never tried film in it.

SqBear Loc: Kansas, (South Central)

oldtigger wrote:

its in the $100 range

Thanks oldtrigger!
Not bad, considering.

Thanks again.
Dave

SqBear Loc: Kansas, (South Central)

PhotoMan1929 wrote:

The lens is a Rapid Rectilinear, a fairly simple f... (show quote)

Thanks for the reply and unique information about the F stop numbers. I did not know this.

Can the "bubble" be refilled by an expert? What should I do or ask before a re-fill, if it can be refilled?

Thanks again!
Dave

SqBear Loc: Kansas, (South Central)

PixelStan77 wrote:

I was a Kodak camera collector for many years. I don't have my price guides any more but if I recall it is work around $25.00, It is not rare. Mass produced. It would be fun to run film through it. Check Freestyle in California
for film.
http://www.freestylephoto.biz/

Thanks PixelStan77.
I'll check out the link for B&W Film, can I assume that the film is 120? I do not have a take-up spool in the camera, perhaps should inquire about that too.?
Thanks again!
Dave