coop@rdin.UUCP (Robert Cooper) (09/09/85)
John J. Francini (francini@argus.DEC) wrote: > I have a friend who has a couple of very old Kodak cameras from around > 1910-1925. They supposedly predate the Brownie era by a fair bit. Does > anyone have any idea what cameras of that vintage could be worth? Their worth, of course, is based on what models they are and on what condition they are in. The range is from about 5 dollars for the very common to a couple of hundred for the very rare ones. If you would like, send me what information you have, and I'll look it up in my collector guide. Send me the info via the net, I would like others to get a little education in the history and pricing of older cameras. The price guide I'll be using is the "Price Guide to Antique & Classic Still Cameras", Fourth Edition (1983-1984), Edited by James McKeown and Joan McKeown. To increase your information about Brownie Cameras, the original Brownie was introduced in February 1900 to take a new size film, No. 117 for 2 1/4 x 2 1/4 exposures. Made of cardboard, it only lasted 4 months in production becaused of a poorly designed back. A rare box camera with a value of around 500 dollars to some crazy Kodak collector. In June 1900, the improved design was introduced and became the first commercially successful Browie Camera. This camera is usually marked as the "No. 1 Brownie" but the earlist examples were marked as "The Brownie Camera". The No. 1 has a value of about $40 while the earlier one might get you $70 dollars. The No. 1 marking does not stand for order of release but for film sized used. You will find many early Kodak cameras marked with some Number, like No. 0 or No. 2c. Some higher number models might have a larger value then lower number models. For example, the "No. 0 Brownie", a small (4 x 3 1/4 x 6 cm) box camera was made for 127 film. As the guide book puts it, "Cute, but not scarce. $15-25". (This little history lession adapted from the price guide.) Are there any other Photographicia collector out there? While I know some things about cameras, my main interest is in images produced before 1900. If there is anyone out there who needs some information about early images or cameras, I'm more then willing to help you out. I find the early history of photograghy with all it developments in both its hardware and software, very similar to the history and current developments of computers. If anyone out there is interested, I continue this line of thought in the future. Reply to me either through the net or by mail. Robert Cooper Resource Dynamics Inc. 150 East 58th Street, Suite 2500 New York, NY 10155 212 - 486-9150 {philabs|delftcc}!rdin!coop