Manufactured in 1938, this version of the Kodak 35 was the very first model of camera built in the USA designed to load 35mm film catridges.
Lens is uncoated, max aperture f/5.6.
Shutter is three speed 100, 50, 25, with B and T settings.
Finder has glass optics, and folds down onto the top in two hinged segments.
Barrel is fixed.
Focusing is by estimation, rotating front lens element. Shortest distance marked is 4 feet, but will turn far enough to focus at 3 feet.
Wind lock is released with chromed button on top, but is not coupled to shutter release.

Comparisons with the Argus Model A, which came to market about 2 years earlier than the Kodak 35, are inevitable, with similarities and differences that can be debated.

On Saturday morning I loaded my Kodak 35 with a roll of Fuji 100 print film and headed to downtown Kirkwood to hear my favorite local band perform live in the midst of the weekly Farmers Market.
From there I took a quick trip to St. Louis Zoo to look in on the elephants and to finish off the roll of film.

Despite the "primitive" nature of the camera, I found that it handles quite well in the field, and yields fairly acceptable results within its limitations. Quite usable. The inside view of the railroad station is an example at the extreme end. It was dark in there, and this camera does not support flash. I shot that frame hand held at 1/25 second and wide open lens at f/5.6, set to 20 feet or so for the focus, and it basically worked, with relatively slow film for today.

Please click on thumbnail images to see enlarged.
All images are ©2010 E.J.Kowalski.