Antique Kodak cameras
from the late 1880s to the 1910s

No. 2 Bullet Special


The No. 2 Bullet Special is a high quality, easy to use camera for the snapshooting photographist.
The Special did cost US $ 18, which was $ 8 more than the regular No. 2 Bullet. For this the photographist got a higher grade camera, with better lens (Rapid Rectilinear) and shutter (Eastman Triple Action).
The camera was still easy to use:

  • Aim it with the help of a little reflex finder.
  • Cock the shutter with a lever on lop.
  • Press the button on top to take the pic.
  • Turn the key to advance the film.
  • Watch the number of the next frame appear in the red window in the back.

Maybe this still sounds complex if you are used to take photos with a smartphone, but around 1900 this was about as simple as it could get.
The No. 2 Bullet Special looks very much like the No. 2 Bull's-Eye Special, but the difference is that the Bullet can take photos on glass plates as well as roll film, whereas the Bull's-Eye only takes roll films. The No. 2 Bullet Special has a little door in a side panel, close to the back. Through this the plate holder was inserted. As you can see in the video the camera has a black colored insert in the back. This is used when the camera is loaded with roll film. A metal plate that is part of the insert, covers the door in the side, so if this is opened, the incoming light cannot spoil the film.
The No. 2 Bullet Special was introduced in May 1898. In April 1904 the curtain went down for the No. 2 and No. 4 Bullet Special cameras. The regular No. 2 and No. 4 Bullets had already been discontinued in 1902 respectively 1900. I think this was due to the popularity of roll film with the snapshooting family photographer. Eastman concentrated on these users and the cameras that were intended for them: the roll film only No. 2 and No. 3 Bull's-Eye cameras.
Of the No. 2 Bullet Special about 4000 were made.