Kodak No. 1A Junior Autographic camera and case : Captain A W Ross, AIF

Places
Accession Number REL/20104
Collection type Technology
Object type Optical equipment
Physical description Cotton, Glass, Leather, Metal, Paper, Wood
Maker Eastman Kodak
Place made United States of America
Date made c 1914
Conflict First World War, 1914-1918
Description

Kodak No. 1A Junior Autographic camera in leather case. This folding camera has a wooden body while the front face and back are made of metal and have a textured leather finish. A hinged door at the front of the camera opens to extend the lens as required. The lens housing is connected to a collapsible paper and fabric bellows which slides along a metal focusing mechanism. Attached to the lens is a shutter release cable. There is a swivelling viewfinder to enable photographs to be taken in portrait and landscape formats. On the back of the camera is an exposure counter and the autographic feature, with a hinged flap and stylus secured by a sliding latch. There is a short leather carry handle at the top of the camera on which is inscribed 'KODAK'. The owner’s name has been scratched into several places on the camera. The leather case has a flap opening secured by a metal fastening onto which is inscribed 'Kodak'. The initials 'AWR' have been scratched onto the fastening as well as on the flap. Underneath the flap is an 'AUST. IMP. FORCE' stamp and also written is 'Capt. A.W.Ross Hdqrs 1st Aust + NZ Army Corps 1914 To 1920'. The case has an adjustable leather carry strap with two metal buckles.

History / Summary

Associated with the service of Captain Arthur William Ross, who was born in Cowes, Victoria. Ross served during the Boer War with 5 Victorian (Mounted Rifles) Contingent as a corporal with the service number 1629. On 31 August 1914, Ross enlisted in the AIF, becoming a staff sergeant on General Birdwood's Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) Headquarters. He was commissioned lieutenant in early 1915, and served at Gallipoli in charge of postal services. Promoted to captain in November 1916, he served on the Western Front and later at Australian Headquarters in Egypt, where he ended the war as Deputy Director of Army Postal Services (DDAPS). This camera was used by Ross during his service at Gallipoli. Originally with the camera, but lost before donation, was a box of photographs taken with it, including one of Simpson and his donkey. Arthur Ross died at the age of 93.