There are two Kodet box cameras: the No. 4 Kodet for 4 x 5 inch pictures and the No. 3 Kodet for 3,25 x 4,25 inch (8 x 11 cm) photos. Both cameras were produced in the US, but the No. 3 Kodet was 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. In my categorization the No. 3 Kodet falls in the class of cheap snapshooter cameras. I don't know its original price, but it must have been less then the larger $ 15 to $ 20 No. 4 Kodet. The settings of the No. 3 Kodet are just the same as with the No. 4: there is not much to choose from, 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 under the lens. There is a wheel with waterhouse stops (missing in my camera) and a distance scale on one side. On the same side you can see 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.
