Vest Pocket Kodak (1912)

This 1912 Vest Pocket Kodak really fits in a vest pocket, or any other pocket. That is why it was a favorite of the soldiers of World War 1. It's not so easy to judge the cameras size in the video, but it is quite small, measuring only 1 x 2.375 x 4.75 inch (2,5 x 6 x 12 cm). It took pictures of 1.625 x 2.5 inch (4 x 6,4 cm) on roll film.
The Vest Pocket Kodak was introduced in April 1912 and replaced by the Vest Pocket Autographic Kodak in 1915. During this short period 200,000 were produced. Its price with a meniscus lens was $ 6 and with a slightly better Kodak Anastigmat $12. A Special version was also sold for $ 25 and this one had a very good quality lens.
My example in the video is an early 1912 model, but the camera can be found in many variations. Two big changes were the introduction of the autographic VPK's in 1915 and the change to a drop bed style instead of the lazy tongs construction during the mid 1920's. You could build a whole collection of all the variations.
The camera is not rare at all, but in the history of popular photography it is a important instrument that was used by many to document the fast changing world of the 1910'and 1920's.