Kodak Falcon

Produced by Kodak for a brief two-year period spanning 1897 to 1898, the Falcon represents an early, albeit transitional, attempt to utilize 35mm roll film in a camera format. While specific details of its design and operation are scarce in existing records, it is documented as a 35mm camera, placing it among the very earliest experiments with this film size before it became the dominant standard for still photography decades later. The camera likely featured a simple, box-like or plate camera adapted to accept the 35mm cine film, which was primarily used in motion picture projectors at the time. Its production window suggests it may have been a limited market experiment or a precursor model, aimed at exploring the potential of smaller, more portable cameras loaded with easily obtainable film stock. The Falcon's existence underscores Kodak's continuous innovation in film formats during the late 19th century, even if this particular model did not achieve widespread adoption or lasting fame. Its significance lies in its position as an early stepping stone towards the portable 35mm still cameras that would revolutionize photography in the 20th century.