a compact 35mm Camera
PH-324/ Kodak 35
The Kodak 35 was introduced in 1938 as the first US manufactured 35 mm camera from Eastman Kodak Company. It was developed in Rochester, New York when it became likely that imports from the Kodak AG factory in Germany could be disrupted by war.
While Kodak had invented the Kodak 135 daylight-loading film cassette in 1934, prior to 1938 they only offered the German made Kodak Retina to work with this cartridge. US built 35mm cameras used the 828 paper backed 35 mm roll-film.
Kodak 35
The first Kodak 35 had no rangefinder. It slightly resembles cameras like the German Wirgin Edinex and Adox Adrette. It takes thirty-six 24×36 mm frames on 135 film. The precision molded black Bakelite body has satin-chromed top and base plates, and a collapsible finder is mounted on top center. The removable Bakelite back with the attached base plate slides easily off for film handling. It is secured by a centrally located wing key in the base plate. Turning the key also slackens the spring tension of the chromed steel film pressure plate, a very unusual feature presumably incorporated to facilitate reassembling the camera rather than preventing scratching the film during rewind, which would have been a novel feature.
This particular Kodak 35 dates to about 1938, and is owned by one of our members.
PH-324
The PH-324 was issued throughout WWII to US Army Signal Photographic units as the standard 35mm camera. Included with this camera was an enlarger, photo paper, film, and chemicals needed to develop both in the field. Kodak produced the camera, a standard Kodak 35, in OD green exclusively for the federal government during the war. The camera used a leaf shutter and basic three element design to produce images on either Kodak Mircrofile or Kodak Super-XX film. A +2 Portra lens was included for copying documents with the accompanying stand in Photographic Set PH-261. The viewfinder and lens are decoupled so you can only get a general idea of what the final picture will look like.
This particular PH-324 is owned by one of our members.
Combat Use
Pvt. Leon Ellner, Bronx, N.Y., behind the lens of a Kodak 35, demonstrates the use of the miniature camera and Kodapod. This clamp-like device can be attached to almost anything and solves for the Army photographer the problem of compactness.
Camp Sutton, N.C.
15 May 1943.
Photo by Greenhaus.
SC 185674, Credit NARA. (Dave Kerr)