Vintage Kodak Medalist II Medium Format Rangefinder film camera with Kodak Ektar 100mm f3.5 standard lens, Serial #30402, Made by Eastman Kodak Co. in Rochester, NY USA. Circa 1946. This camera was CLA'D best as possible for a vintage camera in 2022. Includes original instruction manual. 

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The Kodak Medalist is a high-quality (but bulky and heavy) medium format rangefinder camera making (8) 6x9cm exposures on 620 film. The Medalist was made in the U.S. by Kodak from 1941. The Kodak Medalist II is a post-WWII version adding flash sync but removing the self-timer and fine-focus knob due to the space occupied by the new flash socket and synchronizing mechanism. The camera was designed by Walter Dorwin Teague and Joe Mihalyi, at that time the partnership that produced most of the high-end Kodak cameras.  The first model was reportedly used by multiple branches of the U.S. Armed Forces during WWII, when the great camera makers in Germany and Japan were fighting on the opposite side. In many ways, this was an ideal camera for military use, being solid cast metal with a fairly rugged mechanism, as well as an extremely sharp camera producing a large negative. It was also said to be easy to repair with simple tools, given the right parts.  Indeed, some enthusiasts argue that Medalist and Medalist II were the apex of American camera design;  the U.S. has a long history in the camera industry but, in the mid-twentieth century, cameras produced in the U.S. were overwhelmingly of lower quality and simpler design than German and Japanese cameras. Indeed, the bulk of Kodak's domestic-made output in 1941 consisted of various types of medium-format box camera, aimed at casual users. However, with Germany fighting the U.S., Kodak showed they were capable of producing a uniquely American high-end design.  Moreover, it can be argued that the Medalist represents an American style of engineering that contrasts with the German style of engineering of rangefinder German cameras of this era are not typically so individual as the Medalist, and generally have a higher priority placed on miniaturization and range of features and a lower priority on ruggedness and ease of operation and this could be taken as a commentary on the different engineering culture of the two Countries. Both versions were highly regarded upon release, and while the Medalist II was discontinued in 1953, both still hold up against the modern gear of today.

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This clean Kodak Medalist camera is in Ex or 8 of 10 cosmetic condition. No dings or dents. Few small marks around. Overall fairly clean condition camera. Industrial style camera. Heavy duty all metal aluminum body. Clean lens coating with no marks on the Ektar lens. This camera has been CLA'D in 2022 best as possible for a vintage camera. Good working shutter on this camera. Smooth lens focusing. Scarce Kodak medium format rangefinder style camera. Uses 620 size film. Produces 6x9cm negatives. This nice clean Kodak Medalst II comes with an accessory Kodak Medalist ground glass focusing back, original instruction manual, and an extra 620 film spool. One 620 film spool inside of the camera. This vintage Kodak Medalist II medium format rangefinder camera sells with no reserve at a price of $525. I have more Kodak and other Vintage and Rare collectible cameras in my eBay Store, and on my webpage. Please check them out.