I scored a beautiful folding camera not too long ago, a Kodak Junior Six-16 Series II. Doesn’t it look like it was hardly ever used?
From 1934 to 1936, Kodak produced a camera with a gorgeous art-deco body called the Six-16 that, true to its name, used size 616 film. It was expensive at $40, so in 1935, Kodak put the same works inside a more pedestrian body, lowered the price, and called it the Junior Six-16. They made a few improvements to the camera in 1937, added “Series II” to the name, and charged $12 for it. It went out of production in 1940.
Kodak also made a Junior Six-20 camera very similar to the Junior Six-16 except that it took size 620 film. Kodak hasn’t made either 616 or 620 film in years, but if you have a spare 620 spool, you can roll still-available 120 film onto it for your 620 camera. There’s no such luck with 616 film, and so my poor Junior Six-16 will have to be satisfied with looking good on a shelf in my living room.
Kodak made a bazillion folding cameras in about the first half of the last century. They’re very easy to come by and, with a few exceptions, won’t put much hurt on your checkbook. But most old folders I find are significantly worn, sometimes with the leather chipping or peeling off or the bellows brittle or torn. This folding Kodak is in the best condition of any I’ve ever seen. It also came in its original box.
Go here to see a photo taken with a Kodak Junior Six-16, Series II.
If you like old film cameras, check out all of my reviews here!
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