Kodak Vest Pocket Autographic
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Kodak Vest Pocket AutographicEntry/Object ID
605Tags
IconicDescription
The "Vest Pocket" Kodak (VPK) is one of the most culturally significant cameras of the early 20th century. It was famously marketed as the "Soldier's Camera" during World War I because its compact, folding design allowed it to fit easily into a standard military tunic pocket. This specific model is the Autographic version, featuring a small door on the back that allowed photographers to use a stylus to write notes directly onto the film's paper backing. The "Soldier's Camera": While it was strictly forbidden for soldiers to take photos in the trenches, thousands of men carried VPKs like this one to document their lives during the Great War. It is the camera that arguably created the first true era of "war journalism" from the soldier's perspective. The Autographic Feature: On the back of the camera, notice the small sliding door and the metal stylus tucked into the holder below it. This was George Eastman’s attempt to let people "meta-data" their photos by scratching the date or location into the film backing before it was developed. The "Brilliant" Viewfinder: you can see the tiny, swiveling waist-level viewfinder. It’s a mirrored box that allows you to compose your shot by looking down into it. It’s tiny, dim, and difficult to use by modern standards, which makes the photos taken with it even more impressive. Mechanical Condition: Your unit shows heavy "brassing" (the black paint wearing away to reveal the metal underneath) and some weathering on the bellows. In the collector world, this is often preferred over a mint unit because it looks like it actually went to war. The bellows should be checked for "light leaks"—tiny pinholes in the leather folds that will ruin your film.Category
Camera, 127 Film, Folding
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