The Kodak / Graflex Autographic Feature
The
Graflex 3 A back cover is equipped
with the Autographic feature.
This device made it possible to make
notes of the location or event direct on the negative immediately after
the exposure.
An oval shaped device in the back of
the camera was equipped with a sliding mechanism which gave access to
the underlying film cover paper.
A small metal stylus, clamped on top of the camera could be taken out to use as a pencil.
A sort of typewriter carbon transferred the written text on the negative beneath the film cover
paper.
The text was clearly copied and
later visible in white on the positive and black on the negative..
See photos below.
(Chicago History Museum) Glass negative 5x7 Chicago News Inc.
Remarkable photo
The Autographic application is visible on the glass negative.
It reads: "Edmund Burke....Atty Sangamon City"
Location: Underneath a portion of the elevated tracks in the Chicago Loop.
The negative is fainted by a double exposure.
This fault is quite common made by professionals as well as amateurs, double exposures or blanks are the most common faults in that period of time,
This one is a significant prove that even profs used to forget exchanging the exposed plate by a new unexposed one.
Chicago Daily News, Inc., photographer.
A Highly Profitable Contract!
George Eastman purchased this invention from Henry J. Gaisman, which was a very successful inventor and entrepreneur,
and paid him 300.000 US$ for it.
Kodak
added this new invention to all its so called "Autographic" cameras.
From then on almost all Kodak and Graflex roll film cameras were equipped with this -for that time- unique and useful feature.
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Photos Jo Lommen