Bantam Special (Supermatic Shutter)

      Bantam Special Film Size: 828

      Shutter: Supermatic T, B, 1 - 1/400

      Lens: Kodak Ektar 45mm f/2 - f/16

      Dates: 1936-1948 (Supermatic 1941-1948)

      Original List Price: $110.00

      Condition: 9+
      The Bantam Special was a glorious exception to Kodak's generally consumer-oriented camera lines. Styled by famous industrial designer Walter Dorwin Teague in 1936, the Bantam Special is one of the finest examples of art-deco styling applied to any camera design. The Bantam Special had a 1937 list price of $110.00, targeting the affluent and fashionable set.

      The Bantam Special has an aluminum body with a heavy black enamel finish. It had a helical focusing system with a coupled split-field rangefinder. The excellent optics and shutter in conjunction with the coupled rangefinder, and precision manufacturing, made it a high quality, eye-pleasing "miniature" camera.
      Even when folded, the Bantam Special's art-deco styling is very striking. I still remember when I saw my first picture of a Bantam Special -- in The Story of Kodak, a book by Douglas Collins. I was stunned by the beauty of the camera, and knew I had to have one! My resulting quest produced this example, complete with its original leather case, mint-condition box, and instruction manual.

      The Bantam Special was produced with the Compur-Rapid shutter until 1940. Models produced after 1940 were equipped with the Kodak Supermatic shutter.

      Bantams