Kodak Autographic 3A Special - Restoration HD 720p

[@carlrudd1858]

I replaced a range-finder mirror in my Kodak 1-A Kodak Jr. folding camera. For me it was simple. I found a small ladies makeup compact and removed the mirror from it - I measured the old mirror and cut the same rectangular size from the compact mirror, dropped it in the range-finder and bent the keeper tabs down to secure it in. Took about 30 minutes.

[@dickwilkins9900]

That is interesting - the problem I ran across was finding a mirror that was thin enough to slot in - guess I just have to buy ladies makeup compacts until I find the right one!

[@matthewanderson2464]

Thanks, Dick. Great video. I was given one almost identical to this one from my father, maybe 30 years ago. It belonged to his aunt, who passed away in 1963. I tried it out once, using 120, as the original film went out of production maybe ten years prior to when I got it. It hasn't been converted to use 120, I just had it hanging loose, but it worked okay for the experiment. There was, at the time, one small pin hole in the bellows. Now the bellows is completely broken up and unusable. I will likely completely restore it when I get the courage. The camera inspired me to begin collecting old Kodaks, and I now have several ranging from about 1900, to one I recently picked up at an estate sale from about 1953.

[@dickwilkins9900]

Matthew, pleased you found the video informative. Seems that your 3A is functional apart from the bellows. There were a lot of different materials used to make the 3A bellows. Mine appears to be particularly durable but others are disasters 100 years down the track. Removing the bellows appears to be reasonably straightforward if you can get at the screws. I'm. not sure if they are interchangeable or if a new one can be sourced. Best of luck.

[@matthewanderson2464]

@@dickwilkins9900 the only real issue, other than the bellows, is a missing spring or something on the view finder. It used to stay either horizontal or vertical, wherever you left or. Now it flips around loose.

[@dickwilkins9900]

@@matthewanderson2464 How annoying. The only spring in my 3A viewfinder is a tiny helical one over the pin that hinges the mirror (on the "V" side) with a tail that pushes against the mirror. You cannot lose this spring but it may rust away in extreme cases. The rotation position (V or H) of the whole assembly does not depend on a spring - rather a little dimple holds the rotating assembly in either of two shallow depressions. If you unscrew the front lens (may need WD40) the whole assembly comes off and the dimple and depressions should be apparent. As long as this lens is screwed on hand tight the assembly should remain in one or the other (H or V) positions with no movement.

[@matthewanderson2464]

@@dickwilkins9900 thanks! I'll give that a try when I have a chance.

[@Someyungrebel]

Aw right on, I recently restored one, and I was quite surprised if the results

[@thamesitenz]

Keeping busy 😀

[@petercastell4450]

Hello Dick thank you for a very interesting video up to now I haven't managed to find your blog would it be under anything different in the UK ? which I look forward to seeing. I originally bought mine as an ornament then realised with a bit of work I could use it it has a Velosto 1A shutter and a Kodak Anastigmat lens I had the shutter serviced, overall it's in a very nice condition the strap was missing but a shoe repairer made me a new one, it has one major problem the bellows pin holes and small triangular pieces of the coating missing, a local art shop suggested Acrylic paint mixed with a small amount of PVA glue so I bought a very cheap folding Brownie to practice on it did the job and looked nice I left it for weeks before folding it but it had a tendency to stick, so I'm thinking without a better suggestion I could use it on the 3A and adapt a case to carry it open,, it's not going to be used regularly. Whoever bought the camera originally spent an extra Threepence and got the instruction booklet which came with the camera

[@dickwilkins9900]

celebratingclassiccameras.blogspot.com

[@petercastell4450]

@@dickwilkins9900 Thank you that works without any problems also the link to the photos on Flickr