No. 4A Folding Kodak (1906 - 1915)

This is a very large camera for amateur photographers, producing negatives of 4 1/4 x 6 1/2 inch (10,7 x 16,3 cm) on roll film or glass plates.

There are many sizes of Folding Pocket Kodaks, ranging from the small No. 0 to the largest daylight loading roll film camera for normal use: the No. 4A. It is a giant apparatus and even Eastman Kodak didn't dare to call it a pocket camera, so its name is No. 4A Folding Kodak.

Some figures and facts:

• It was introduced in 1906
• and discontinued in 1915
• during which time 15.000 were made
• the model A (from April 1906 to December 1907) has a wooden front construction
• with the model B the wooden front changed to metal

The roll film back could be replaced with a plate back. From 1915 an Autographic back was available also.
The camera was sold with a number of lens / shutter combinations, ranging from the cheapest model with Rapid Rectilinear lens and Bausch & Lomb Automatic shutter ($ 35) to a model with Goerz Dagor and X.L. Sector for $ 110. Like the No. 3, 3A and 4 Folding Pocket Kodak, the 4A could be used as a simple snapshooting camera, but also as an instrument for the more advanced amateur. The lensboard can be moved sideways and up and down. If used as a plate camera the effect can be judged on the ground glass.

Sample photo made with the No. 4A Folding Pocket (sic) Kodak

Ad in Photo Era 1906