225 - The Eastman Company | Kodak No. 1

The Eastman Company | Kodak No. 1 Estimate: €1,600–1,800 Year: 1889 Serial No.: 13142 Condition: B+ English: The “Kodak” is George Eastman’s legendary first roll film camera bearing the new brand name “Kodak,” patented and introduced in 1888. It used Eastman stripping negative film, the first successful roll film (the photographic emulsion was attached to a paper roll, from which it was separated during development). The camera was loaded at the factory. The Kodak No. 1 resembles the original Kodak camera but has a different shutter. It was available with paper-based stripping film or its successor, Eastman transparent film. The shutter was tensioned by pulling a string and released by pressing a button on the camera’s left side. The original Kodak and the No. 1 have a “V” shape embossed in the leather on the top, indicating the angle of view; this is the only framing aid. After exposure, the film was advanced using the key on top. The moving film rotated a shaft, causing a pointer on top of the camera to rotate, allowing the photographer to advance the correct amount of film. Once one hundred pictures had been taken, the user sent the entire camera back to Kodak for film processing and reloading—at a cost of $10. The original Kodak and the No. 1 could take one hundred round photographs, each with a diameter of 2½ inches (65 mm), on each roll of 2¾-inch-wide Eastman American Film. The round image was a design choice, partly to ensure that the photographer did not have to hold the camera exactly level with the horizon, and partly to compensate for the poor image quality at the corners of the frame. These first Kodak cameras were designed by George Eastman in collaboration with a cabinetmaker, Frank A. Brownell, who set up the production line at Eastman’s factory. They are beautifully crafted, featuring box joints and sturdy leather covering. The rare camera offered here is in very fine, original condition, complete with cap and original case. German: “The Kodak” is George Eastman’s legendary first roll-film camera under the new brand name “Kodak,” patented and introduced in 1888. It used Eastman’s “Stripping Negative Film,” the first successful roll film in which the photographic emulsion was applied to a roll of paper and stripped from it during development. The camera was loaded with film at the factory. The Kodak No. 1 and No. 2 from 1889 resemble the original Kodak Camera but have different shutters. They were available for both paper film and its successor, the transparent Eastman film. A cord was pulled to wind the shutter; the shutter was released via a button on the left side of the camera. On the original Kodak and the No. 1, a “V” is embossed in the leather at the top, indicating the angle of view and serving as the only framing aid. After each exposure, the film was advanced using the key on the top. After 100 exposures, the user would send the entire camera back to Kodak for film development, processing, and refilling for $10. The original Kodak and the No. 1 allowed for 100 circular exposures, each 2½ inches (65 mm) in diameter, on each roll of 2¾-inch-wide Eastman American Film. The circular image format was a deliberate design choice: On the one hand, the photographer did not have to hold the camera perfectly level; on the other hand, it compensated for the poorer image quality at the corners. These first Kodak cameras were developed by George Eastman in collaboration with the cabinetmaker Frank A. Brownell, who set up the production line at Eastman’s factory. They are superbly crafted, with dovetail wood joints and sturdy leather covering. The rare camera offered here is in very fine original condition, complete with its lid and original case.