Filling the Gaps: The Kodak No. 3A Folding Pocket Camera (Model C)

Filling the Gaps: The Kodak No. 3A Folding Pocket Camera (Model C)

The Kodak 3A Folding Camera has been on my 'to have' list for a while, to go alongside the Kodak 1A Autographic and the diminutive Kodak Vest Pocket camera. The 3A is anything but diminutive though,  measuring 240 x 120 x 50 mm (folded) and coming in at a weight of over 1kg (1110g). This monster (my better half insists my vintage cameras are little monsters, but that doesn't really apply here) popped up on the Kamerastore website and even though it was described as, 'the lens has a lot of fungus inside [and the] camera is generally worn', it is still mechanically sound and just requires a good clean.

The Kodak 3a was originally launched in 1903 with the model A, and this was follow by several variations; the model B (1903-4), the B2 (1904-6), the B3 (1906-8), the B4 (1908-9), the B5 (1909-12), and finally the model C from 1912-15. In 1914 the model C and further variations were fitted with the autographic back as standard and marketed as the Kodak 3A Autographic.

The Kodak 3A Folding Pocket camera takes 122 film, which was last made in 1971. The film is 8.25cm wide, compared to 6cm for 120 film, and the frame size is 14cm long. The format is known as 'postcard size' as negatives could originally be contact printed onto a postcard backing. Of course, if I want to use the camera with 120 film I'm going to need an adapter, so I've ordered a set from camerahack.it (https://www.camerhack.it/product/fak-122-120-to-122-film-adapter-kit/).

The Kodak 3A Folding camera is  fitted with a Bausch & Lomb Rapid Rectilinear two element lens and the Kodak Ball Bearing shutter with speeds of 1/25, 1/50 and 1/100s plus B (bulb) and T (time). Aperture is determined by the dial on the front underneath the lens and ranges from f4 to f128. 

When it arrived it was clear that this 3-A had been well used. Some of the leatherette was missing and in other places it was cracked. The whole camera was quite dirty and dusty and both lenses were spotted with dirt and fungus. Inside the camera was not too bad, and the bellows were surprisingly dust free. However, the body and lenses needed a good clean. Before I started cleaning the camera I did a check of the bellows with a little LED light and they are quite light tight. 

The first thing I did was remove the lenses and soak them in hydrogen peroxide to (hopefully) clean the lenses and kill any remaining fungus inside the lens. (Later I removed the little lens in the viewfinder and popped that into the hydrogen peroxide, too.) Then I gave the body a good clean with a soft cloth before opening the camera and cleaning that inside and out. The bellows and shutter assembly were cleaned with a jet of air.

Once the camera body was done I cleaned the viewfinder. This has a little metal hood, so it was actually not too bad inside, but the lenses and mirror got a good clean with a cotton bud and alcohol. Sadly the mirror was quite dirty around the outside and couldn't be readily cleaned. 

Then I turned my attention to the lenses. These had been soaking in the hydrogen peroxide for a while by now so I removed each lens, dried it off, and gave each a quick rub with a soft cloth. The difference was amazing. The  haze and fungus were gone and the lenses were clear. Each was restored to its original position, and the viewfinder lens screwed back into place. The camera is now ready for testing, although before I can use it properly I really need to replace the red window.

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#Kodak, #Autographic, #122Film, #Camera, #Bellows, #Experimental, #Film, #ShittyCameraChallenge, #FrugalFilmProject, #Retro, #Vintage, #ArtDeco,