NO. 1 KODAK

The Eastman Company, later Eastman Kodak Company, Rochester, New York 1889-1895

The No. 1 Kodak was really the second Kodak to be produced, following the introduction of The Kodak (Original) in 1888. Per Brian Coe's Kodak Cameras, the First Hundred Years, "after October 1889 and the introduction of the No. 2 Kodak camera, this model was known as the No. 1 Kodak camera." Like the Original, the No. 1 had a 100-exposure capacity with the camera being returned to Eastman Kodak for development, printing and reloading.

By 1889, Eastman had changed out the barrel-style shutter used on his first model, and made a few minor changes to the camera. The barrel-style shutter was more complicated and expensive to produce, and a new design emerged. Patent No. 408,596 was granted to George Eastman on August 6, 1889 for the No. 1 Kodak which incorporated a new sector-style shutter design:

Source: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office

This sector-style shutter would also be used on Eastman's No. 2, No.3 and No. 4 Kodak string-set cameras that were to follow.

The shutter release button was located slightly lower on the No. 1 Kodak, which ergonomically improved one's grip when making an exposure. The No. 1 Kodak's front panel was now held in place by tension, rather than the two screws as seen on the Kodak Original's front panel. Like the Kodak Original, the No. 1 Kodak continued with the v-shaped sighting lines that were tooled into the leather at the camera's top.

With 10,000+ No. 1 Kodaks having been produced, this example bearing Serial No.10668 was probably built in 1895 by the Eastman Kodak Company, as it was now named. The camera is complete with its shutter, all of its hardware and internal rollers and its winding key. Although its string is broken, the original brass pull is present.

Despite the fact that twice as many No. 1 Kodaks were made, compared with Kodak Originals, both models are extremely scarce today.