The Yale was a simpler and cheaper range to the Adams de Luxe. It was usually fitted with a changing bag permanently fixed to the camera, early models though could be supplied with dark-slides.

Five models were produced:

• No. 1 - 3 ¼" x 4 ¼", Rapid Rectilinear lens.
• No. 2 - 3 ¼" x 4 ¼", Cooke lens, superior finder, rising front and rack and pinion focusing.
• No. 3 - 4" x 5", Rapid Rectilinear lens.
• No. 4 - 4" x 5", Cooke lens.
• No. 5 - 6 ¾" x 3 ¼" stereo, f7.5, 5" Ross Rapid Aplanat or a f6.3, 4 ⅛" Zeiss VIIa lens.

The No. 1 and No. 2 appeared around 1897, the No. 3 in c. 1899 and the No. 4 a little later. The No. 5 appeared in c. 1900.

On very early models the shutter operates behind the lens, later it operated between the lens and had pneumatic rather than spring regulation. The front of early models hinged down to show the lens rather than sliding upwards as in later models, this change took place after the between-the-lens shutter was fitted. At around this time the cover to the changing compartment was made much deeper and the handle was fixed to the rear of the camera, previously it connected the front and the rear spanning the focusing position.

In 1900 the improved shutter (with pneumatic regulation) was modified, the speed was now shown on a circular disc rather than on a flat plate. Around 1902/1903 the No. 1 model was fitted with rise and cross front and rack and pinion focusing, this probably amounted to utilising the same body as the more expensive models. A year or two after this the cheaper models were dropped from the range shortly followed by the other models.

The name plaques on early cameras have a curious recess where the word Yale is printed or written, this might indicate that originally the camera was to have a different name which was changed to Yale after the plaques had been produced. The Aldersgate address is sometimes scratched from the address plaque.

The changing box used on the Yale had an incline at the front of the box which lifted the plates enabling the front plate to be gripped when changing plates.