Kodak No 2A Brownie (US Model)

Eastman Kodak Company

Name:	No 2A Brownie
Manufacturer:	Eastman Kodak Company
Country of Origin:	USA
Construction:	A basic box camera of metal construction, with a textured leatherette covering. The metal surround to the front face is painted to match the colour used for the covering. This is a key difference between the US models of the Brownie box camera and those produced by Kodak Ltd in the UK. The colours are also quite different to those found of the UK models. The US models were made in the following colours: black, blue, green, brown, red, grey. Note that the No 2 Brownie for 120 film was produced in the same set of colours.
Plate / Film Size:	116 rollfilm
Lens:	Meniscus
Shutter:	Simple rotary shutter
Movements:	None
Dimensions (w x h x l):
Production Period:	1929 - 1933

In my experience the scarcity of the US models runs in the following order (most common to least):

• Black
• Red
• Blue
• Green
• Grey (or more correctly, gray)
• Brown

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A matching case was available for the cameras that provided space for the storage of two spare films. These do turn up quite often in the US.

Model / Variant:	Blue (Model F)
Date of this Example:	1931
Serial Number:	None
Availability:	Common  Uncommon  Hard to Find  Scarce
Inventory Number:	248

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Description

Blue finish Kodak No 2A Brownie box camera in good order, with bright metalwork and a handle in good order. It has some minor damage to the painted metalwork.

Generally in good condition. The coloured surface of the handle is deteriorating, showing some brown leather below. Coloured metalwork is in good condition and other metalwork is bright. Leatherette on hinge is showing some wear.

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Model / Variant:	Brown (Model F)
Date of this Example:	c1930
Serial Number:	None
Availability:	Common  Uncommon  Hard to Find  Scarce
Inventory Number:	344

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Description

Brown finish Kodak No 2A Brownie box camera in good order, although the metalwork is dull and the handle is worn and a little out of shape. Some minor damage to the painted metalwork, but nothing that prevents it being used for display purposes. The shutter is faulty though, and jams in the open position as if the spring mechanism has broken or is uncoupled. It has a plate on the rear for the supplier 'Harvey Lewis'.

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Model / Variant:	Green (Model F)
Date of this Example:
Serial Number:	None
Availability:	Common  Uncommon  Hard to Find  Scarce
Inventory Number:	295

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Description

Green finish Kodak No 2A Brownie box camera in good order, with sound metalwork and a handle in good order. It has some very minor damage to the painted metalwork.

Generally in good condition. The coloured surface of the handle is deteriorating, showing some brown leather below. Coloured metalwork is in good condition and other metalwork is bright. Leatherette on hinge is showing some wear. Slight lifting of covering on the front face.

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Model / Variant:	Red (Model F)
Date of this Example:	c1932
Serial Number:	None
Availability:	Common  Uncommon  Hard to Find  Scarce
Inventory Number:	455

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Description

Red finish Kodak No 2A Brownie box camera in good order, with good metalwork, although it all needs a clean as it is pretty grubby. Handle missing. It has some very minor damage to the painted metalwork.

The camera has a small metal badge about 1cm diameter on rear for 'Eastman Kodak Los Angeles Stores Inc'.

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Model / Variant:	Grey (Model F)
Date of this Example:	c1932
Serial Number:	None
Availability:	Common  Uncommon  Hard to Find  Scarce
Inventory Number:	119

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Description

This is described as 'grey', though it looks nothing like the UK grey colour or the grey used for the coloured folding cameras. This was one of several examples that have been listed on eBay under military items as the grey looks like khaki!

It is apparent that the grey loses its colour over time and appears khaki.

Generally in good condition. The coloured surface of the handle is deteriorating, showing brown leather below. Coloured metalwork is in good condition and other metalwork is bright. Leatherette on hinge is showing wear, with white lines across where it has been stressed through use.

The seller provided the following background information obtained from the granddaughter of the original owner: "It belonged to a Colonel Wickler, US Army Medical Corps. He was a doctor that served in a French field hospital during WWI. He received some pretty high French medals for valor. He also served under General Patton in Italy during WWII, so she said."

Notes

I collected this series of Kodak No 2A Brownie cameras to allow comparison with the coloured versions of the UK model of the Kodak No 2 Brownie.