Kodak Folding Brownie No.3A (red bellows)

Produced by Kodak between 1904 and 1907, the Folding Brownie No.3A (red bellows) represents an early and significant step towards making 35mm photography accessible to the amateur market. This camera featured a compact folding design, allowing it to be portable while protecting the lens and bellows within a leatherette-covered body. Its distinctive red bellows are a key visual characteristic, differentiating it from other models of the era. Utilizing the 135 format (35mm), it was one of the earliest Kodak cameras designed specifically for this film, moving beyond the larger format roll films that were previously the company's mainstay. The camera's design emphasized simplicity and ease of use, aligning with Kodak's long-standing mission to put photography into the hands of everyday people. Its introduction predated the more famous Leica I but contributed to the groundwork for the eventual widespread adoption of 35mm as the dominant format for amateur and professional photography alike.