No 3 Folding Pocket Kodak DeLuxe Camera

Eastman Kodak Company

Name:	No 3 Folding Pocket Kodak DeLuxe
Manufacturer:	Eastman Kodak Co.
Country of Origin:	USA
Construction:	This is essentially a No 3 Folding Pocket Kodak but finished to a much higher quality with Persian Morocco covering, brown silk bellows and a silver nameplate.
Production Period:	1901 - 1903 (US), but refer to Notes below

 

Plate / Film Size:	118 rollfilm (3¼" x 4¼")
Lens:	Bausch & Lomb Plastigmat f6.8
Shutter:	Volute (3 - 1/150, B, T)
Movements:	None
Dimensions (w x h x l):
Date of this Example:	c1902
Serial Number:	1760B
Availability:	Common  Uncommon  Hard to Find  Scarce
Inventory Number:	522

(Image © David Purcell 2011)

Description

The No 3 Folding Pocket Kodak DeLuxe camera is a very scarce variant of the No 3 FPK with superior Persian Morocco covering (brown / tan pattern), and brown silk covered bellows. The Kodak name badge at the base of the lens standard is silver, and there are

This example is fitted with a stunning polished brass Volute shutter, rather than the standard B & L Automatic shutter, although it is still fitted with the standard B & L Plastigmat lens.

The leather covering is in exceptionally fine condition. The camera arrived in a strong hide Kodak case, though it does not have silver fittings (noted by Coe [4] as one of the other noticeable differences between this and a conventional model).

This is essentially a modified Model AB - the inside of the back records the model as "MODEL AB.EX".

Notes

This example was purchased in the US where it was available from 1901 to 1903. Apparently a number were exported to the UK for sale between 1906 and 1908, and I do know of two examples that have turned up in Europe.

This is a stunning camera to look at and probably the most attractive conventional folding camera that I am ever likely to have the pleasure of looking after.