BoxCameras.com - Eastman Company 'C' Ordinary Glass Plate Kodak Camera, 1891-1895

The Ordinary camera series was so-named due to its Spartan, exposed-wood exterior. This was at a time when leather-clad hand cameras cost on average $5.00 to $10.00 more than 'plain' wood varieties. The Ordinary series came in three sizes: the A, B, and C. The 'C' sold for $15.00, and was the largest of the series, taking a standard 4 x 5 inch negative on darkroom-loaded rollfilm. The string-set Ordinary series was closely related to the Daylight Kodak series, and is itself historically important as the only exposed-wood box cameras ever manufactured by Kodak.

This particular example of the 'C' Ordinary accepted glass plates in double plateholders instead of rollfilm. As such, it was marketed under the cumbersome name shown above. The owner of the camera, however, could have purchased separately a rollfilm holder to complete the outfit. This makes this version of the 'C' Ordinary similar to the No. 3 Kodak Junior Camera in that both were designed to accept rollfilm or glass plate modules.

The Ordinary series was introduced and marketed at a time when the world was headed into a depression. As such, they were not big sellers, and are hard to find today. Many Ordinaries were covered with leather and converted to be Daylight Kodak models. In all, about 2025 'C' Ordinary cameras were made, and of these, about 475 were converted to 'C' Daylight models.

Found inside the front door of the camera was this film reminder
indicating the camera was still in use during the mid-1890s.

Since this caution label was supplied with Eastman *rollfilm*, we can assume
that the owner of this camera had both the rollfilm and glass plate backs.

'C' Ordinary with front door removed; note the string required to set the shutter for exposure

Rear of camera with ground glass visible. Door is marked "Adapter for C Ordinary Kodak"
Plateholders were inserted and removed through the narrow door on the right.