Antique Kodak Vest Pocket Model B Autographic Camera. USA 1925–1930

Antique Kodak Vest Pocket Model B Autographic Camera. USA 1925–1930 This Kodak Vest Pocket Model B Autographic, manufactured in Rochester (USA) between 1925 and 1930, belongs to the last generation of cameras equipped with Kodak’s innovative autographic system. It is an exceptionally well-preserved example, both mechanically and aesthetically, combining technical precision and refined design in a pocket format. The autographic system, one of Kodak’s most distinctive inventions, allowed writing directly on the film using a metal stylus (present and original in this example) through a sliding window on the back of the camera. This ingenious mechanism, meant to be used with special autographic film, made it possible to note dates, places, or dedications that appeared alongside the image after development, a romantic and unique feature in the history of photography. Designed for type 127 film, this camera produced 4 × 6.5 cm negatives and was conceived for the traveling photographer of the 1920s. Its folding leather bellows design, here in excellent condition, made it easy to store in a pocket or handbag. The shutter works properly, and the body, covered in textured black leather, retains all its original elegance. The original autographic stylus, with its characteristic engraved metal body, remains in its side holder, a very uncommon detail in surviving examples. The camera is complete and functional, preserving its authenticity and charm intact after nearly a century. Wear is minimal, consistent with its age, with no structural damage or notable deterioration. The whole piece conveys the solidity and balance of period Kodak cameras, an object with soul, built to last, which still today inspires admiration for both its mechanics and its elegance. Measurements: 12.5 × 6.5 cm (4.9 × 2.6 in). History of the Kodak Vest Pocket Model B Autographic The Kodak Autographic system, patented by Eastman Kodak in 1914, was one of the most ingenious innovations of analog photography. Thanks to a small sliding gate on the back of the camera and a metal stylus, the user could write directly on the negative, recording notes or dedications that appeared after development. The Vest Pocket Model B Autographic, introduced around 1925, was one of the last Kodak cameras to incorporate this system before its disappearance in the following decade. Mechanically improved over the original version, it retained the same compact and portable charm that had made the “Vest Pocket” famous, known as “The Soldier’s Camera” for its use during World War I. This example, intended for the French-speaking European market, bears the inscription “N’ouvrir qu’en enroulant” (“Do not open without advancing the film first”) engraved on the metal cover of the rear window, a characteristic feature of models distributed in France and Belgium. For its rarity, excellent condition, and preservation of the complete autographic system, this camera is a particularly valuable piece for historical photographic collecting.