Summary

Kodak Hawkeye Pocket Instamatic camera and original packaging box, manufactured by Kodak Australasia Pty Ltd in Coburg, 1974-1979.

The Hawkeye Pocket Instamatic was a compact plastic camera designed to fit into the user's pocket and took a small 110 cartridge film. It used a MagiCube flash that clicked into the top of the camera and didn't require batteries, which enabled inside and night photography.

Pocket Instamatic cameras were officially launched in April 1973 in Australia, but dealers were given an earlier preview with a small number available to sell for Christmas 1972. These cameras had already been released in the USA and Europe in 1972, but demand there was so high that the Australian sales launch was delayed. From 1974 the Kodak Pocket Instamatic camera was assembled in Australia at the company's Coburg factory, from parts imported from Kodak Limited in England.

This object is part of the Kodak Heritage Collection of products, promotional materials, photographs and working life artefacts collected from Kodak Australasia in 2005, when the Melbourne manufacturing plant at Coburg closed down.

Physical Description

Grey plastic camera that came with its original packaging, but without the rest of equipment that made up the original camera outfit. Box registered and stored separately. Kodak museum sticker on back of box and evidence that one was once adhered to the camera itself.

More Information

  • Collection Names

    Kodak Heritage Collection

  • Collecting Areas

    Images & Image Making

  • Acquisition Information

    Donation from Kodak (Australasia) Pty Ltd, Ms. Kate Metcalf - Kodak (Australasia) Pty Ltd, 2005

  • Acknowledgement

    Courtesy of Kodak (Australasia) Pty Ltd.

  • Manufacturer

    Kodak (Australasia) Pty Ltd, Elizabeth Street, Coburg, Greater Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 1974-1979
    Pocket Instamatics were first made internationally in 1973 but were made at Coburg from early 1974. It is unclear when Coburg stopped making them but worldwide they were supposedly made until 1979. The Coburg factory stopped making all cameras in 1981 according to former Kodak engineers. Australian Kodakery, No. 50, Feb / March 1974, p.5; Kodakery, No. 82, September 1977, pps. 1, 3; http://camera-wiki.org/wiki/Kodak_Hawkeye_Pocket_Instamatic

  • Inscriptions

    On camera: 'HAWKEYE pocket INSTAMATIC camera' On top of box: 'Kodak Hawkeye / KODAK / HAWKEYE / Pocket / INSTAMATIC / Camera / Outfit' On one side of the box: 'Kodak Hawkeye / KODAK (Australasia) PTY LTD / MELBOURNE / AUSTRALIA / CAT 475 8702' On one side of the box: 'Kodak Hawkeye / OUTFIT CONTAINS / Kodak Hawkeye camera / Kodacolor II film - 20 exposure / Magicube flash and extender / Wrist strap Instructions' On back, front and flap of box: 'Kodak Hawkeye'

  • Model Name or Number

    HAWKEYE, Pocket Instamatic

  • Brand Names

    Kodak (Camera)

  • Classification

    Photography, Image making equipment, Cameras

  • Category

    History & Technology

  • Discipline

    Technology

  • Type of item

    Object

  • Overall Dimensions

    186 mm (Width), 124 mm (Depth), 66 mm (Height)
    Dimensions of box

  • Overall Dimensions

    114 mm (Width), 54 mm (Depth), 26 mm (Height)
    Camera

  • References

    James & Joan McKeown (Eds.), 'McKeown's Price Guide to Antique and Classic Cameras 2001-2002', Centennial Photo Service, United States of America, 2001

  • Keywords

    Photographic Products, Cameras, Lenses, Optical Technology, Photography, Photographic Flash Attachments, Photographic Equipment, Packaging Boxes