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 apparently solid silver according to the 1902 Kodak catalog.

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.