Superb! 1933 Art Deco Kodak 6x9 camera, Freshly Serviced, CLA’d

Cleaned, Lubricated & Adjusted. Ready for immediate use!

This is an Kodak art-deco 620 camera. A classic Walter Teague design, it was produced in Europe which at that time was a new market for Kodak where it was trying to gain a foothold.

 This model was produced from 1933 to 1937. It was a relatively expensive camera which featured timeless art deco styling, real leather bellows and an excellent fit and finish. However its price and the economics of the great depression, limited the total sales to only some 34,000 units. The limited numbers and the limited survival rate after 80 years, means that they can be hard to find in clean, fully usable condition. 

It produces 6x9 exposures on 620 roll film.  In case you’re wondering, 620 film is still available from specialty film firms on the internet. Additionally, many owners simply wind 120 film onto 620 spools. (620 film is identical to 120 but it’s wound onto slightly smaller spools.)

It’s a lovely camera and additionally it’s has been carefully cleaned, lubricated and adjusted.  This one is fitted with the optional top-of-the-line Compur-Rapid shutter which works smoothly. All speeds (T, B & 1 sec - 1/400th) are appropriate. The slow speeds buzz along smoothly and the faster ones are clean and snappy.

The 4.5/10,5cm (105mm) Kodak Anastigmat lens is in exceptionally fine condition. This is a high quality three element lens that was based on the Cooke triplet. When shooting at medium to close distances, it has a very attractive rendering that’s quite sharp in the plane of focus and focus rolls off very smoothly and sweetly into the background. (Great Bokeh.)  The glass is exceptionally clean and clear. There are no scratches or cleaning marks. There are no separated elements, crystallization or haze and it’s capable of producing beautiful photos with modern color and B&W films.

Interestingly the serial number of the lens is no.000 which suggests that this may have been a preproduction version.  There is also a plate on the inside of the lens door which is difficult to see. It reads: SIX-20 “Kodak” mod. C Made in Great Britain by Kodak Limited, London

 All in all a lovely art-deco camera in top condition. Freshly serviced and ready to use, if you’re so inclined.