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No. 3 Kodet (1894)

The series of Kodet cameras includes:

  • No. 3 Regular Kodet boxcamera
  • No. 4 Regular Kodet boxcamera
  • a number of different No. 4 Folding Kodets
  • two versions of the No. 5 Folding Kodet

All were "poor" man's cameras, but some had as much adjustments as the expensive Improved Folding Kodaks.

The No. 3 Kodet takes pictures of 3 1/4 x 4 1/4 inch (8 x 11 cm) on glass plates or film. The camera was produced in the US, but  made for the UK market only. It was introduced in 1894 and discontinued in 1896. 405 were manufactured and it is a very rare camera today.

The No. 3 Kodet belongs to the class of cheap snapshooter cameras, intended for the not so wealthy casual photographer. The settings of the No. 3 Kodet are simple, so there is not much chance to make a mistake.

  • For ordinary snapshot work there is only one shutter speed (Instantaneous setting) that can be altered slightly with a lever below the lens.
  • There is a wheel with waterhouse stops (missing in my camera).
  • A distance scale on one side.
  • On the same side a lever with which the shutter is cocked.

In the back of the box 3 double plate holders and a ground glass are stored. These can be replaced with a special Kodet roll holder for a darkroom loaded 48 exposure spool of film. The plate holders or roll holder can be reached through a door in the side. A door in the back allows the photographer to focus and compose the image on the ground glass. See the No. 4 Kodet for more information regarding the history of these cameras.

Ad from: John Birch and co., ltd. (1895) Photography, its materials and appliances (for circulation in the colonies and foreign countries only).

 

 

 

 

 

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