Camera Collection

We recently dusted off our photo camera collection. Interest in old cameras,
around the world, is alive and well, therefore not too many such cameras are
rare or valuable (in dollar terms). We do however have in our collection a
notable specimen. The Kodak Medalist II (1946). There were two models
made in the 1940’s and we appear to have a fine example of the revised
model. The design and construction of the Medalist II was a radical departure
from the Kodak consumer camera range. There seems to be no other
camera of its kind from that era.
Although it was commercially available, the Medalist II was made for and
used by, the U.S. military. It was made for rugged use, its casing was mostly
black, it used a large format film (620) and the optics were superior to
anything before it.
During the War Years, steel and aluminium were at a premium but no
expense was spared to make this a solid, reliable camera and it was during
this time that a black veneer was applied to most of the body, revealing less
reflective surface and thus more suited to military recognisance.
Unfortunately, we have no history on our Medalist II but as its manufacture
was near to the end of the War, it may not have seen action.

......(Thanks to Jay Sider for this contribution)