Cameras Of 1912: A Historical Snapshot

In 1912, Kodak released the Vest Pocket Kodak, a camera that would change the way people took photographs. This camera was compact, portable, and relatively affordable, allowing people from all walks of life to shoot whatever they liked. It was the best-selling camera of its time, with over 200,000 units sold. The Vest Pocket Kodak was also marketed as the Soldier's Camera during World War I, with soldiers using it to document their experiences and keep in touch with their loved ones. The camera's success continued with the release of the Autographic model in 1915, which introduced the ability to write directly onto the film, a precursor to modern EXIF data. The Vest Pocket Kodak played a pivotal role in establishing photography as an essential part of everyday life and a way of preserving memories for generations to come.

The Vest Pocket Kodak was released in 1912

The Vest Pocket Kodak, also known as the VPK, was released in 1912 and became one of the most popular and successful cameras of its day. Over 2 million were sold before the model was discontinued in 1926. The idea of a compact camera that could fit conveniently into your pocket may seem like a recent innovation, but the VPK was one of the first and most successful 'compact' cameras.

The Vest Pocket Kodak was a folding camera series made by Eastman Kodak (Rochester) from 1912 to 1935. It was the first camera to use the smaller 127 roll film, on which it captured eight exposures, 4x6.5cm in size. The camera took film negatives slightly larger than a postage stamp, measuring just 1⅝ by 2½ inches. When closed, the VPK was only 1 by 2½ by 4¾ inches—small enough to fit into a waistcoat pocket, as its name suggests. The British Journal Photographic Almanac reviewed the camera, stating:

> In the very excellent design and finish of the apparatus we see the familiar determination of the Kodak makers to produce always the best type of a given article. The Vest Pocket Kodak, though taking a very small picture, is nevertheless a thoroughly reliable instrument, and not at all dear at its price of £1 10s (£1.50).

The VPK was advertised in the USA as "The Soldier's Camera" during World War I, and it was widely popular among soldiers who bought cameras to record their travels and experiences. The camera was also popular with American 'doughboys', and owners were encouraged to "Make your own picture record of the War". The camera's popularity led to skyrocketing sales figures. In 1914, about 5,500 VPKs were sold in Britain, and the following year, sales increased to over 28,000.

The Vest Pocket Kodak was a significant innovation in the history of photography, offering a compact and convenient design that made it a favourite among amateur and professional photographers alike.

It was the first camera to use 127 film

In 1912, 127 film was introduced by Eastman Kodak for their Vest Pocket camera. The Vest Pocket camera was one of the most popular and successful cameras of its day, with over 2 million sold before the model was discontinued in 1926. The Vest Pocket camera was small enough to fit in a waistcoat pocket, hence the name 'Vest Pocket'. The 127 film was 4.6cm wide and could store eight pictures in 4x6.5cm format. The Vest Pocket camera was fitted with a two-speed ball-bearing shutter and a fixed-focus meniscus lens.

The Vest Pocket camera was the first camera to use 127 film. The 127 film was a paper-backed roll film, originally designed to store eight pictures in 4x6.5cm format. The film was created by Kodak specifically for their Vest Pocket camera model, and the film was often called 'Vest Pocket film'. The Vest Pocket camera was small enough to fit in a waistcoat pocket, hence the name. The Vest Pocket camera was first introduced in April 1912, and it was one of the first and most successful 'compact' cameras of its time.

The 127 film was created by Kodak to fit their new Vest Pocket camera, which was designed to be a compact and portable camera. The Vest Pocket camera was a folding camera that, as the name suggests, could fit comfortably in the user's vest pocket. The 127 film was also designed to be portable and affordable, and it became extremely popular when it was first released. The Vest Pocket camera was a significant innovation in the world of photography, as it offered a compact and convenient way to capture photographs.

The Vest Pocket camera was not only popular with civilians but also with soldiers during World War I. Many soldiers bought the Vest Pocket camera to record their travels and experiences during the war. It was widely advertised as 'The Soldier's Kodak', and owners were encouraged to 'Make your own picture record of the War'. Sales figures for the Vest Pocket camera soared during World War I, with over 28,000 cameras sold in Britain in 1915. The Vest Pocket camera played a crucial role in documenting the realities of war, and it has left us with a valuable visual record of that tumultuous period in history.

The 127 film and the Vest Pocket camera had a lasting impact on the world of photography. The Vest Pocket camera was one of the first truly compact cameras, and it set a trend for smaller and more portable cameras. The 127 film, with its ability to store eight pictures, offered convenience and affordability to photographers. The Vest Pocket camera and the 127 film paved the way for future innovations in camera design and film technology, and they remain an important milestone in the history of photography.

It cost $6 at the time

In 1912, the Vest Pocket Kodak camera, or 'VPK', was one of the most popular and successful cameras of its day. Over 2 million were sold before the model was discontinued in 1926. The VPK was a compact camera, small enough to slip into your pocket. It took film negatives slightly larger than a postage stamp—just 1⅝ by 2½ inches. When closed, the VPK measures just 1 by 2½ by 4¾ inches. The 'Vest' in the name is the American term for a waistcoat, and the camera lives up to its name. It retailed for £1 10s (£1.50) in 1912, which is about $6 at the time.

The VPK was favourably reviewed by the photographic press. The British Journal Photographic Almanac, for example, thought that:

> In the very excellent design and finish of the apparatus we see the familiar determination of the Kodak makers to produce always the best type of a given article. The Vest Pocket Kodak, though taking a very small picture, is nevertheless a thoroughly reliable instrument, and not at all dear at its price of £1 10s (£1.50).

The introduction of the VPK coincided with a boom in camera sales linked to the outbreak of the First World War. Many soldiers bought cameras to record their travels and experiences. The VPK was by far the most popular choice, particularly with American 'doughboys'. It was widely advertised as 'The Soldier's Kodak' and owners were encouraged to 'Make your own picture record of the War'.

Sales figures rocketed. In 1914 about 5,500 VPKs were sold in Britain. The following year, this increased to over 28,000.

It was marketed as 'The Soldier's Kodak'

The Vest Pocket Kodak, or VPK, was a compact camera introduced in April 1912. It was one of the first and most successful 'compact' cameras of its time, with over 2 million units sold before the model was discontinued in 1926. The camera was small enough to fit in a pocket, measuring just 1 by 2½ by 4¾ inches when closed. The VPK was made of metal, with a shiny black enamel finish, nickel-plated struts, and black leather bellows. It featured a two-speed ball-bearing shutter and a fixed-focus meniscus lens, and retailed for £1 10s (£1.50) in Britain.

The Vest Pocket Kodak was particularly popular among soldiers during World War I, who bought the cameras to record their travels and experiences. It was widely advertised as 'The Soldier's Kodak', and owners were encouraged to 'Make your own picture record of the War'. The camera's compact size and portability made it ideal for soldiers to carry with them on their journeys.

The introduction of the VPK coincided with a boom in camera sales linked to the outbreak of World War I. In 1914, about 5,500 VPKs were sold in Britain, and the following year, sales increased to over 28,000. The camera's popularity among soldiers led to a significant increase in the number of war photographs taken during this period.

The Vest Pocket Kodak played a significant role in documenting the experiences of soldiers during World War I, providing a window into the lives and journeys of those who served.

It was the first camera to allow writing on the film

The Vest Pocket Kodak, or VPK, was one of the first and most successful compact cameras. It was released in April 1912 and was one of the most popular cameras of its time, with over 2 million units sold before it was discontinued in 1926. The VPK was small enough to fit in a pocket and took film negatives slightly larger than a postage stamp.

In 1913, Kodak changed the way their many different roll-film sizes were identified. Films were previously identified by the type of camera they fitted. To simplify things, a consecutive numbering system was adopted, starting from 101. Film for the VPK was the 27th roll film format produced by Kodak and was numbered 127.

In 1915, the 'Autographic' Vest Pocket Kodak was introduced. This was made possible by an American inventor, Henry Gaisman, who patented a roll film with a thin carbon-paper-like tissue between the film and the backing paper. A small flap in the camera back could be opened to uncover the backing paper. Pressure from a metal stylus caused the backing paper to become transparent, exposing the film. This allowed photographers to 'write' on their negatives, and the writing would then appear on their finished prints.

Kodak bought Gaisman's patent for $300,000, and the entire range of folding Kodak cameras, including the Vest Pocket Kodak, were subsequently redesigned to use autographic film. The introduction of the Autographic VPK coincided with a boom in camera sales linked to the outbreak of the First World War. The camera was widely advertised as 'The Soldier's Kodak', and owners were encouraged to 'Make your own picture record of the War'.

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