For sale is an antique EASTMAN KODAK PREMO CAMERA No 1 with a FOLDING BELLOWS from the Eastman Kodak Company, Rochester, NY. . This camera lens is marked with a 1913 patent date. The Premo Folding Film Camera No. 1 was manufactured by the Eastman Kodak Company from approximately 1906 to 1916. In 1908, this camera was referred to as the Film Premo No. 1 and designed for use with the Premo film pack. The camera was designed as a very compact camera that could be carried in a coat pocket. The camera is fitted with a double rapid rectilinear lens and automatic shutter for time or instantaneous with bulb or finger release. The camera has two tripods sockets. A great collectible camera.
From the company’s founding by George Eastman in 1888, Kodak followed a business strategy of selling low profit margin cameras and then making large profit margins on consumables such as film, chemicals and paper. As late as 1976, Kodak commanded 90% of film sales and 85% of camera sales in the U.S. The emergence of digital cameras sparked a death spiral for this iconic American company.
