Kodet season

Sometimes it takes many months between the appearance of Kodet cameras that are for sale and sometimes you can buy a small collection in a few weeks time. This is the case now. In my last blog I wrote about my newest addition, a horizontal style No. 4 Folding Kodet. Now there is a vertical No. 4 Folding Kodet for sale at eBay. It is missing the top and back doors, but the rest of the camera is in decent original condition. The brass and the woodwork seem te be clean and without major damage. This is a very rare camera, only 2246 being made, horizontal style included, in the period 1894 - 1897. The missing doors can be replaced without much trouble. Only 14 hours to go, 11 bids at the moment, price $ 268.

The second Kodet that is for sale is a No. 4 Kodet box camera. It is missing the back door and the side door is not attached. The rest seems to be OK and it even has three double plate holders and a ground glass frame. The leather is dry but in original condition and not spoiled with a thick layer of shoe polish.
There are only two box Kodet cameras, the smaller No. 3 Kodet and this one for 4 x 5 inch photos. The No. 3 is extremely rare, only 405 being made, but this larger one is also not seen often. During the period 1894 - 1897 only 1413 were made. So if you want one, get it now. Still 6 days to go, no bids yet and starting price is $ 400.

A nice non-Kodak item for sale is this 5 x 7 inch group photo with a young lady holding a large box camera. I don't recognize the camera, but as far as I can see it is no Kodak. It would be a nice addition to any collection of turn of the century photography. Still 3 days to go, 2 bids yet, price $ 1.04.

Part of a larger photo.

No. 4 Folding Kodet, horizontal style

This week I have added a new camera to my collection: it is a very rare No. 4 Folding Kodet horizontal style. The No. 4 Folding Kodet cameras were made in two styles, a vertical and a horizontal one. The vertical I already had, so I was excited when I found the other model for sale on eBay. It is not in a good condition, but the camera is so rare that I would not let it pass. Only 2246 were made of both versions together.

The camera is mentioned in the 1895 to 1897 Kodak catalogs. It could be had with a simple achromatic lens for $ 12 and with a better Rapid Rectilinear lens, as in mine, for $ 17.50.
Like all No. 4 cameras made by Kodak, it took 4 x 5 inch pictures. The Kodets are primarily plate cameras, but roll holders were available. For this model it would cost another $ 10.

Since the previous blog I have been able to identify the aeroplane in the photograph. It is a Curtiss model D, with one canard (the little wing in front of the pilot), dating it to 1910. See one in action in the video below.

There have been some other interesting items at eBay, like the landmark Luzo camera. It most probably is the first camera that sported the front roll design, meaning that the feed and take up spools are located in the front of the camera and not behind the plane of the projected image. H.J. Redding patented this design on November 28, 1888 in England and produced the Luzo. Look here for excellent information about the Luzo.
The one on eBay sold for US $ 2400 after two bids.

A second interesting item is the original No. 3 Folding Pocket Kodak that sold for $ 368. Early No. 3 FPK's are seen often, but the real first model, with the full "Eastman Kodak Co." on the metal plate below the lenspanel and not just "Kodak". See my original model on my site.

The third collectible camera that was sold is a No. 4 Eureka. This camera was made in 1899 and only 4500 were produced. It is not really very rare but it is not often seen, so the price of $ 327 is appropriate. The No. 4 Eureka was renamed No. 4 Zenith for the British market, were the Eureka name was already in use. The Zenith is more rare because only 1000 were made.