Original Kodak Camera, Series No. 540

Original Kodak Photographic camera, Series No. 540

Description
This Original Kodak camera, introduced by George Eastman, placed the power of photography in the hands of anyone who could press a button. Unlike before cameras that used a glass-plate negative for each exposure, the Kodak came preloaded with a 100-exposure curl of flexible pic. Later finishing the roll, the consumer mailed the camera back to the mill to take the prints fabricated. In capturing everyday moments and memories, the Kodak's distinctive circular snapshots defined a new style of photography--breezy, personal, and fun.
George Eastman invented flexible roll picture and in 1888 introduced the Kodak photographic camera shown to utilise this motion-picture show. It took 100-exposure rolls of film that gave circular images two 5/8" in diameter. In 1888 the original Kodak sold for $25 loaded with a roll of film and included a leather carrying case.
The Original Kodak was fitted with a rotating barrel shutter unique to this model. The shutter was set by pulling up a string on pinnacle of the camera and operated past pushing a button on the side of the camera. Later taking a photograph, a key on top of the camera was used to wind the motion picture onto the next frame. In that location is no viewfinder on the camera; instead two V shaped lines on the elevation of the photographic camera leather are intended to help aiming the camera at the subject. The butt shutter proved to be expensive to manufacture and unreliable in operation. The following twelvemonth the shutter was replaced by a simpler sector shutter in the No 1 Kodak.
After 100 pictures had been taken on the picture strip, the camera could exist returned to the Kodak factory for developing and printing at a toll of $10. The camera, loaded with a fresh roll of film was returned with the negatives and mounted prints. Kodak advertisements from 1888 also state that whatsoever amateur could "terminate his ain pictures" and spare rolls of moving picture were sold for $2.
Location
Currently not on view
Object Name
camera, box
Date made
1888
maker
Eastman Dry Plate and Film Company
Place Made
United States: New York, Rochester
Physical Description
wood (overall textile)
leather (overall material)
metallic (overall fabric)
drinking glass (overall material)
Measurements
overall: 95 mm ten 83 mm x 165 mm; iii 3/4 in x iii ane/4 in x vi 1/2 in
ID Number
PG.000169
catalog number
169
accession number
23598
Credit Line
Mary I. Stroud
Run into more items in
Work and Industry: Photographic History
National Treasures exhibit
Artifact Walls exhibit
Photography
Data Source
National Museum of American History

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