This Cartridge Premo folding camera is a striking survivor from Kodak’s golden age, crafted in Rochester, New York, during the 1910s–1920s. Compact yet elegant, it embodies the era when photography was shifting from professional studios into the hands of everyday dreamers and travelers.
Its folding design, textured leather covering, and brass-accented lens plate speak to the careful balance of durability and beauty that defined Kodak’s work. The “Cartridge” name marks a key innovation - the use of Kodak’s roll film cartridges, which transformed photography into an accessible every person ability. The sturdy but portable folding cameras were designed for everyday photographers at a time when capturing life’s moments was just becoming possible for families outside the studio. The model name “Cartridge” referred to Kodak’s roll film cartridges — a revolutionary step that helped establish their famous slogan: “You press the button, we do the rest.”
Imagine the lives it might have touched: family portraits taken on front porches, excursions to parks or lakes, or the first snapshots of a rapidly modernizing America. This is more than a camera, it’s a piece of cultural history, a reminder of when the magic of holding memories in your hand was still brand-new.
This camera is sold as is, untested, as a collector’s piece and historical artifact. t is meant for the collector, the romantic, the one who treasures objects not only for their function but for the eras and emotions they embody.
