From the
Vest Pocket, it kept the format and
from the Kawkette, the plastic. The Kodak Bantam is, with the
Jiffy, one of the last pocket foldings produced by Kodak.
The designation of "Bantam" fits very well
with the objectif of the Rochester's engineers
which was to produce a small size camera.
This
little folding appears in 1935 with a lens
f6.3 and a solid viewfinder.
It has been produced as well in a version with a lens
f12.5 and a viewfinder with frame.
The body is in bakelite and metal. The plate supporting the lens is self-erectible
: pressing down the button on the front face and the camera is ready for
use. The shutter offers only two speeds: Instant
and T.
The "Bantam" series will
remain until 1963, during that period :
bakelite will be
replaced with cheap plastic and a rigid body will take the place of the
folder.