Kodak No. 1A Autographic Junior

Kodak No. 1A Autographic Junior | S/N: Not Visible

Kodak No. 1A Autographic Junior Folding Camera - Good Condition | Antique 1910s-1920s Medium Format Folding Camera with Stylus Port and Ball Bearing Shutter

Introductory Paragraph The Kodak No. 1A Autographic Junior is the definitive choice for the antique camera collector, historical archivist, and creative fine-art photographer who values the mechanical poetry and physical presence of early twentieth-century analog design. Manufactured by the Eastman Kodak Company between 1914 and 1927, this elegant folding camera represents a pioneering era of personal record-keeping. It features George Eastman’s revolutionary Autographic system, which allowed photographers to open a small spring-door on the rear hatch and write notes directly onto the film backing using a metal stylus. Presenting in remarkable, operational state for its century-old heritage, this Kodak masterpiece offers the pure mechanical honesty, historic tactile feedback, and structural integrity required to serve as an exceptional display center-piece or a uniquely rewarding vintage creative tool.

Key Features

• Historic Autographic rear door port layout, enabling on-film note-taking and date logging directly at the moment of exposure.

• Elegant bellows-driven folding architecture, compressing a large-format film path down into a flat, pocketable traveling profile.

• Classic Kodak Ball Bearing Shutter mechanism, operating entirely mechanically via an internal spring train without electrical dependencies.

• Traditional adjustable aperture iris assembly, providing variable depth-of-field control across classic numerical standard increments.

• Dual landscape and portrait tripod mounting sockets, allowing stable mechanical attachment to early traditional studio and field stands.

• Integrated reversible brilliant waist-level optical viewfinder, rotating fluidly to assist in both vertical and horizontal frame compositions.

• Premium black leatherette exterior skin coating, wrapping a highly durable aluminum chassis structure for lasting structural protection.

Condition Report Good condition. Body: Considering its century-old vintage heritage, the camera body is in highly impressive structural condition. The black leatherette skin is largely intact with only minor typical corner scuffing, edge wear, and faint superficial surface oxidation on some exposed nickel-plated metal parts. The front door opens smoothly and locks into a perfectly rigid, flat profile. The internal folding bellows are remarkably supple, clean, and free from catastrophic tears, heavy flaking, or major structural light leaks. Sensor/Optics: The fixed taking lens optic is clear and free from heavy clouding, deep scratches, or internal glass separation. A standard, expected level of internal micro-dust and faint age-related cleaning marks are visible under strong inspection light, which is typical for an antique optic of this vintage era. The small waist-level viewfinder is intact and usable. Mechanics/Electronics: Fully operational. The mechanical Ball Bearing Shutter fires consistently on both instantaneous (I) snapshot settings as well as the Time (T) and Bulb (B) long-exposure modes. The aperture slider mechanism opens and closes smoothly.

Specialist Note "Holding the Kodak No. 1A Autographic Junior is like taking a direct step back into the golden age of industrial manufacturing. What makes this camera such an absolute treasure today is its raw mechanical simplicity and the sheer beauty of its folding engineering—the way the front bed drops down and the bellows pull out with a soft click is incredibly satisfying. Originally designed to shoot the historic A116 film format to create large, gorgeous contact prints, these cameras have found a passionate new life among experimental analog artists who modify them to shoot panoramic frames on modern 120 roll film. This specific example has survived the decades wonderfully; its bellows are beautifully preserved, and the shutter clicks with that iconic, nostalgic mechanical snap. Whether you are looking to add a gorgeous piece of history to your display shelf or seeking a unique vintage camera to push your artistic boundaries, this Kodak Junior is an exceptional, honest survivor."

What's Included

• Kodak No. 1A Autographic Junior Antique Folding Camera

• Fixed Kodak Ball Bearing Shutter & Optic Assembly

Technical Specifications

• Brand: Kodak

• Model: No. 1A Autographic Junior

• Camera Type: Large Format Camera

• Film Format: Vintage A116 Roll Film (Capable of custom modern 120 modifications)

• Lens Type: Fixed Meniscus / Achromatic Doublet Optic

• Shutter System: Kodak Mechanical Ball Bearing Shutter (Instantaneous, Time, and Bulb settings)

• Focus System: Manual Scale Focusing (Adjustable front standard slider plate)

• Category: 1. Cameras ▸ Large Format Camera

• Battery Type: None