A Medalist II as featured in our Journal
Toronto. At some point when the late Bill Belier became editor of Photographic Canadian, he started this column. In issue 30-3 dated November/December 2004, under editor the late Bob Lansdale, Bill has written, “A Short Survey of Some Earlier Medium Format Cameras“.
Included in Bill’s survey is the late Stan White’s Kodak Medalist II. Stan wrote about the Medalist II, “The Medalist (6×9) is a beautifully constructed camera but somewhat over-designed. In consequence, many have not survived in perfect working condition. But the lens is exceptional, a Heliar type, five elements, designed for Kodak by F.E. Altman, and since Kodak were heavily into rare earth glasses at the time, it is arguably the equivalent of the Apo- Lanthar.”
As I recall, Bill was less enthusiastic about Medalist cameras in general since they looked robust but were very heavy and rather delicate in operation (contrary to Ken Rockwell’s enthusiastic opinion). The original Medalist was marketed in 1941 as an alternative to cameras from Germany. It survived into the 1950s, but never replaced German or other international medium format cameras.
I have spotted the odd Medalist in movies, on TV, and at some of our events. If you relish this or another camera for your own collection visit one of our events this spring – like the auction on May 5th.
