An 1888 Kodak inside and out
Toronto. In 1888, George Eastman down in Rochester broke new ground with his then iconic “Kodak” camera. This marvellous invention has a name speakable in most languages.
For the first time in photography it was a camera that used roll film and came ready for 100 exposures. When the roll was finished, camera and film were returned to Eastman to have prints made, a new film added, and the whole package (prints, new roll and camera) returned to the owner.
In one flash of inspiration, photography was opened to many new amateurs! A camera and sensitive media light to carry, a camera simple to use, and exciting photographs to view and admire. All thanks to the dry plate, and inventors who created roll film and the means to ‘meter’ it in the camera. This earliest version used so called stripping film. The film’s transparent backing was not optically clear.
Editor Ev Roseborough described this cover shot to issue 13-4 as, “The original Kodak introduced in 1888, can be easily identified by the two brass screws immediately above and below the aperture. Approximately 5000 were produced before it was superseded by the Kodak No. I in 1889.”
Members back then (early 1988 could read the journal articles including histories of Eastman Kodak and the E. Leitz Leica. More recent members received our PHSC DVD and could read the pdf version. You can join or renew easily – follow the MEMBERSHIP sub-menu above for traditional cheques, or the right hand sidebar to use a card or PayPal. Easy-Peasy. Once registered, the DVD will be mailed to you via Canada Post. Problems? Just email our membership secretary Lilianne Schneider at menbership@phsc.ca.
While we can’t assure you that you will find one of these 1888 beauties for your collection at one of our fall events, we can say you will have a good time and meet friends old and new at our fall auction and fall fair. Dates and posters will be in place this fall.
