Eastman Kodak Co.

Eastman Commercial Camera

Date Introduced:  Years Manufactured: c. 1928-1933
Construction: front and rear focus via rack and pinion (two gear tracks on top of base rails); double swing; three-piece lensboard; reversing by removable back
Materials: cherry wood throughout, brass hardware, red leather bellows.
Sizes Offered: 8x10 only
Notes: about 20 pounds of solid cherry wood and metal, with a functionally robust handle.  It has unique rear standard hardware.  It was sold with a normal lensboard, but two specialized ones were available as accessories: a recessed lensboard for short focus lenses, and the rising lensboard (pictured above) for "skyscraper" pictures. In 1928, it was offered at the same time as the Folmer Commercial Camera.
References:
Studio and Kodak Finishing Equipment Catalog, Z.T. Briggs Photo Supply Co. (Kansas City, MO, c. 1927), p. 65
Eastman Professional Photographic Apparatus 1927, Eastman Kodak Co. (Rochester, NY), pp. 18-19
Eastman Professional Photographic Apparatus, 1928, Eastman Kodak Co. (Rochester, NY), p. 14
Eastman Professional Photographic Apparatus, 1929, Eastman Kodak Co. (Rochester, NY), p. 14
No. 29 Illustrated Catalogue of Photographic Outfits and Supplies, Eastman Kodak Stores, Inc. (St. Louis, MO), May 1, 1929, p. 3
Catalogue No. 42 of Cameras, Kodaks, Lenses and Photographic Accessories 1932-33, Central Camera Co. (Chicago, IL), p. 39

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