Kodak Jiffy Six-20 Folding Camera c.1940
ABOUT
This is an original Kodak Jiffy Six-20 folding camera with Twindar Lens. The body of camera is wrapped in leatherette and it folds smoothly closed to 1.25 inches. This camera has retained its original finish and has the appropriate amount of wear.
Camera may or may not work. Sold for decorative purposes.
- CREATOR Eastman Kodak Company
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DATE OF MANUFACTURE c.1940-1950
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MATERIALS AND TECHNIQUES Leatherette, Chrome, Optical Glass.
- CONDITION Good. Wear consistent with age and use.
- DIMENSIONS H 6.25 in. W 5.5 in. D 4 in.
HISTORY
When it was introduced, the Kodak Jiffy Six 20 was marketed by Eastman Kodak as the simplest, most user-friendly folding camera ever made. Up until that point, most folding cameras were of the same basic design. They were relatively difficult to handle, complex, and required users to manually unfold the camera and extend the lens in order to take photos. In the spirit of simplicity, the Jiffy boasts a simple two button operation. The first small metal button can be found on the film advance knob’s side of the camera and releases the front plate, causing the metal struts on either side to snap into place and automatically extend the lens. The second button is the shutter lever which can be found on the side of the front plate once extended.
Kodak’s Jiffy came in four flavors during its 15 year production run. The original Jiffy features an Art Deco design on the front plate and a kickstand that only supported the camera in portrait orientation while the Series II model was completely clad in plain black leatherette and featured a modified kickstand that could accommodate landscape orientation as well.
