Friday 25 February 2011

Old Pocket Cameras and 110 Film

At the beginning of the Great War there was a boom in the sales of camera's especially the Kodak folding camera or VPK (vest pocket Kodak camera). In 1914 around 6,000 of these “pocket Kodak” camera's were sold in Britain, the following year over 28,000. The reason being why so many pocket Kodak cameras sold was many soldiers carried VPK's to record their experiences.

Kodak's strategy was to supply an affordable camera to the 'masses' and these old cameras were “mass” produced. The majority of them are still easy to find and the great thing about them, apart from they usually still work, is that they can be purchased cheaply.

There are lots of vintage cameras worth looking out for and its not only the 'rare' models that can be worth a lot of money. If the camera was owned by someone famous then this can increase the value especially if there is a good “provenance”.

I have bought many “old film cameras” in the past and they still have the old film inside and you never know what you may find. Usually, its family pics but even these old vintage photographs can be of interest especially the early photo's.

Its always worth considering the following:

A Kodak Autographic pocket camera, the one Andrew Irvine took with him on the Mount Everest Expedition 1924 is one of the most sought after camera in the world. He set off for the summit of Mount Everest with George Mallory in 1924 but never returned.

Sadly, they both perished whilst climbing Mt Everest and many believe that they had reached the summit and were returning when tragedy struck. There bodies were never found at the time but in 1999 Malory's body was discovered near the summit of Mount Everest, Irvines as yet to be found.

Andrew Irvine had with him a VPK, a Kodak Autographic and if found the camera may reveal whether they reached the top of Everest, nearly 30 years before Hillary and Tensing.

It would be great to find this camera and Kodak state that it could still be possible to develop the 110 film even after all these years.

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