No. 5 Folding Kodak Improved (1890)

The Folding Kodaks of the early 1890's were among the first bellows cameras that were designed as hand held cameras. When closed they resemble a satchel, so they are also known among collectors as 'satchel Kodaks'. One side of the satchel is hinged and folds down to form a bed over which the lensboard can be pulled out of the case.
During transportation the bellows, lens and shutter and all other parts are contained in the case, which can be carried over the shoulder on a long leather strap.
The No. 5 takes pictures of 5 by 7 inch (13 x 18 cm). It is not really a small camera, but for the early 1890's is was quite a transportable apparatus. The outer dimensions when closed are 7.5 x 9.25 x 10.125 inches (19 x 23 x 26 cm).
The camera came on the market in 1890 as No. 5 Folding Kodak. It had a smaller lens panel as the one that can be seen in the video. It only could take photos on film that was loaded in a darkroom on a Eastman-Walker rollholder. From 1892 the cameras were changed so that they could accomodate plate holders as well.
The top of the box is hinged also and gives access to the rollholder, plate holders and ground glass.
In 1893 the Improved model appeared. It has a much wider lensboard, with rising and horizontal sliding movements, and a double swing back. The drop down bed has extra hinges so that the front half of the bed can be swung down even more. This was neccesary when using wide angle lenses (otherwise the front part of the bed would show in the picture). An extra lens panel and septum were supplied to convert the machine to a stereoscopic camera.
Like all satchel Kodaks this model was not intended for the snapshooter but aimed at the serious amateur or professional photographer. It cost $ 75.
The camera was discontinued in 1897. The satchel Kodak design was outdated by then. In 1897 the No. 4 Cartridge Kodak came on the market, followed in 1898 by the No. 5 Cartridge Kodak for 5 x 7 inch photos. These were more compact and could be used with daylight loading rollfilms and plates as well.