General Information

Serial #

291916

Part Number

1

Total Parts

2

AKA

N/A

Patents

N/A

General Description

Metal camera body with a leather bellows, and a glass and synthetic lens.

Dimensions

Note: These reflect the general size for storage and are not necessarily representative of the object's true dimensions.

Length

20.5 cm

Width

9.6 cm

Height

4.0 cm

Thickness

N/A

Weight

N/A

Diameter

N/A

Volume

N/A

Lexicon

Group

Photography

Category

Still cameras

Sub-Category

N/A

Manufacturer

AKA

Kodak

Country

United States of America

State/Province

New York

City

Rochester

Context

Country

Canada

State/Province

Ontario

Period

Unknown

Canada

This camera belonged to The Right Honorable Herbert (Herb) Eser Gray. Gray was a prominent political figure that served the liberal party from the early 1960’s to the early 2000’s. He held a variety of positions during his parliamentary career such as deputy Prime Minister, committee chairmanships, and cabinet ministries during the liberal governments of Prime Ministers Pierre Trudeau, and Lester Pearson. Gray is recognized as being Canada’s first Jewish cabinet minister.

Function

A device used to record still images on film.

Technical

Introduced in 1926, the Pocket Kodak No.1A was one of the first cameras to possess an adjustable rangefinder. It also incorporated the very popular autographic feature. The autographic element allowed the user to record a text image of their choice (i.e. a signature, a date, or a brief note) onto each film frame, or photo. This was accomplished by means of a small metal writing stylus. After taking a photo, the photographer would open a small window at the back of the camera and would write a message of his choice. In order to make use of the autographic feature, the camera had to be loaded with no. A-116 Autographic film. This spool of film was made of three layers: 1-film, 2-carbon paper, 3- thin backing paper. Applying pressure with the stylus would transfer the carbon onto the thin red backing paper. This action allowed a bit of light to pass through the backing paper onto the film, thus imprinting that image onto that specific frame of film.

Area Notes

Unknown

Details

Markings

On the tab on the proper front: "KODAK/ 291916"/ Stamped into the back: "USE FILM/ No/ A116"/ Text around lens reads: "T B 25 50/ KODEX/ No [logo] EKC 1/ SHUTTER MADE IN ROCHESTER, N.Y., U.S.A. BY/ EASTMAN KODAK CO./ 27258 F-7.9 1 16 22 32 45/ NO. 1A POCKET KODAK/ MADE IN U.S.A. BY/ EASTMAN KODAK/ COMPANY/ ROCHESTER, N.Y."

Missing

Appears complete

Finish

Predominantly black camera with silver-coloured accents.

Decoration

N/A