No. 4 Kodak (1889)

Of the first series of Kodak cameras, this No. 4 is the biggest. The film holder can take spools for 48, 100 or 250 pictures of 4 x 5 inch (10 x 12,5 cm), and is located behind the plane of focus, as in all Kodaks prior to 1895. Due to this construction the camera is quite long, about 12-3/4 inch (32 cm). It's picture/bulk ratio is 34% (see the pull down menu above the chronological list for an explanation). This is not extraordinary for the early Kodaks, but altogether it was quite a large box the photographer had to carry around.
The No. 4 Kodak was nevertheless a travelers camera, as he didn't need to change the 100 or 250 exposure film often. (To change the film the photographer needed to find a dark room to do so.) Also the trouble of taking a picture was reduced to a minimum. One had only to pull the cord to cock the shutter, turn the key to wind on the film, set the distance and press the button. If you wanted to eliminate every possible complication, you could choose a No. 2 Kodak, which had a fixed focus lens, so you didn't have to set the distance.
The No. 4 Kodak was not cheap, costing $ 50. It was made from November 1889 until 1897.

An interesting fact is that Arctic explorer Robert Peary used three No. 4 Kodaks on his early voyage to the north-east coast of Greenland during 1891-1892. He choose the No. 4 Kodak for its sturdy construction, ease of operation and 4 x 5 inch picture size. After the expedition one of the cameras was displayed on the 1893 Columbian Exposition. Today it is kept at the International Museum of Photography / George Eastman House in Rochester. Its serial number is 8283 and it is marked with the name 'Peary' and the letter 'B'. I have described all this, and much more about Peary's photography, in my articles 'Kodaks op de Noordpool' in 'Photohistorisch tijdschrift' nr. 2 and 4 of 1997. An English translation was published as 'Kodaks at the North Pole' in 'Photographica World' issue 100, of 2002.