No 2 Brownie Camera (UK Model)
Kodak Limited
| Name: | No 2 Brownie (Model F) |
| Manufacturer: | Kodak Ltd |
| Country of Origin: | United Kingdom |
| Construction: | A basic box camera of metal construction, with a
textured leatherette covering. While based on the same basic
aluminium body shell as the US model, the UK model has a number of
differences. The most noticeable is that the metal surround to the
front face is always in black enamel on the UK models while the US
models are painted to match the colour used for the covering. The
colours used are also quite different to those in the US. The UK models were made in a number of colours: black, blue, green, brown, red, claret, grey. A silver model was introduced in 1935 to celebrate the Silver Jubilee. The rarest is a version produced in 1930 for sale over the Christmas season, whose covering has a geometric Modernist' pattern. |
| Plate / Film Size: | 120 rollfilm |
| Lens: | Meniscus |
| Shutter: | Simple rotary shutter |
| Movements: | None |
| Dimensions (w x h x l): | |
| Production Period: | 1928 - 1935 |
The No 2 Brownie box camera was made in the UK by Kodak Ltd at the factory in Harrow from 1928 through to 1935. While the cameras were made in large numbers, some of the colours are harder to find than others. In my experience the scarcity of the UK models runs in the following order (most common to least):
- Black
- Blue
- Brown
- Green
- Claret
- Red
- Grey
- Silver
- Modernist
<Insert group photo>
There are a number of small variations in design that may be encountered. The winder can take the form either of a key or a knob (from 1931 according to Coe [4]). The front may be plain but 1931 models have double rectangular lines as used on the earlier models of the No 2 Brownie.
| Model / Variant: | Blue |
| Date of this Example: | 1931 |
| Serial Number: | None |
| Availability: |
|
| Inventory Number: | 1 |
![[x]](../../images/checked.png)
![[ ]](../../images/unchecked.png)
<Photographs to be added>
Description
This blue coloured Kodak No 2 Brownie box camera has the round winder knob, so it was made sometime between 1931 and 1933 according to Coe. However it also has the double rectangular line decoration rather than a plain finish, so this dates it to 1931.
This camera hints at three common problems found with these cameras. The covering has shrunk slightly so it appears to be retreat away from the edges, exposing some of the underlying aluminium carcass. There is also minor corrosion on the black paintwork, but in display condition. There is also some bubbling to the surface of the leatherette, which appears to be due to the white glue used to fix the covering to the camera body changing over time and hardening and / or perhaps it might indicate some corrosion on the surface of the underlying aluminium.
~ # ~ # ~
| Model / Variant: | Brown |
| Date of this Example: | c1930 |
| Serial Number: | None |
| Availability: |
|
| Inventory Number: | 2 |
<Photographs to be added>
Description
Kodak No 2 Brownie box camera in brown colour with a winder key, so it was made between 1929 and 1931. The brown camera often seems to turn up in better condition than some of the other colours for some reason.
Again, the covering has shrunk back a little from the rear cover, exposing the underlying aluminium body, but it still displays well.
~ # ~ # ~
| Model / Variant: | Green |
| Date of this Example: | |
| Serial Number: | None |
| Availability: |
|
| Inventory Number: | 117 |
<Photographs to be added>
Description
Green Kodak No 2 Brownie box camera. Model with winder key rather than knob, so this was made between 1929 and 1931.
Limited shrinkage of leather covering at rear of camera. The black paintwork is in very good order. Handle intact. Some bubbling under surface, but not very pronounced.
~ # ~ # ~
| Model / Variant: | Claret |
| Date of this Example: | c1932 |
| Serial Number: | None |
| Availability: |
|
| Inventory Number: | 31 |
<Photographs to be added>
Description
Claret coloured Kodak No 2 Brownie box camera in good order. Some tarnishing to clip on end flap. This example has the round winder knob and was therefore manufactured between 1931 and 1933.
The camera came complete with:
Kodak Portrait Attachment 1 (in original EKC tin, with instructions)
Kodak Sky Filter 1 (in original Kodak Ltd tin, with instructions)
It also came with the original instructions marked with the owners name - Picture-making with the Nos. 2 and 2A "Brownies". It has an order form at back for the magazine, which has a date field which is prefixed "192 ..."
~ # ~ # ~
| Model / Variant: | Red |
| Date of this Example: | c1932 |
| Serial Number: | None |
| Availability: |
|
| Inventory Number: | 387 |
<Photographs to be added>
Description
Red coloured Kodak No 2 Brownie box camera in good order, with little evidence of surface bubbling. The metalwork is also in good condition. The only thing that lets it down is that part of the red covering has been torn away along the top right edge of the front.
Round winder knob (and therefore manufactured between 1931 and 1933).
~ # ~ # ~
| Model / Variant: | Grey |
| Date of this Example: | c1932 |
| Serial Number: | None |
| Availability: |
|
| Inventory Number: | 282 |
<Photographs to be added>
Description
Grey Kodak No 2 Brownie box camera in very good order, although it needs a clean to show colour at its best. Winder key (hence manufactured between 1931 and 1933). Metalwork bright, and black enamelled metal work in very good order with no obvious sign of corrosion or paint loss.
~ # ~ # ~
| Model / Variant: | Silver Jubilee |
| Date of this Example: | 1935 |
| Serial Number: | None |
| Availability: |
|
| Inventory Number: | 106 |
<Photographs to be added>
Description
Silver Kodak No 2 Brownie box camera made to celebrate the Silver Jubilee of King George V in 1935.
Limited shrinkage of covering at rear of camera, revealing the underlying aluminium shell. Some bubbling on surface on the top and sides. ~The black enamel paintwork is in good order. The metal clip on the door is lightly tarnished. The black leather carry handle is intact.
~ # ~ # ~
| Model / Variant: | Modernist |
| Date of this Example: | 1930 |
| Serial Number: | None |
| Availability: |
|
| Inventory Number: | 680 |
<Photographs to be added>
Description
This is the scarce version of the Brownie No 2 Model F in the special Modernist finish, produced in November 1930 for the Christmas season, according to Coe [4], and only in limited numbers. At least one source [reference to be added] suggests the camera was sold through the Liberty shop in Regent Street (London), but I have never found any firm evidence for this.
The material covering on this example has shrunk back a little at the edges, most obvious on the top face at the rear edge. There is also obvious bubbling of the surface, presumably due to surface corrosion of the underlying aluminium body shell. There is only minor wear to the surface, with one fairly obvious rub mark to the surface above the shutter release.
The black enamel edging around the front face is in remarkably good condition, with little evidence of surface rusting. The front face of the film carrier inside the camera shows significant signs of surface rust, so this is surprising. Many other examples of the Brownie No 2 in this finish that I have seen on the web, not that there are many, show significant corrosion to this edging in common with other coloured variants of the Brownie No 2 camera.
The Modernist finish was made available on three different camera models: the Brownie No 2 (as here), the No 2 Portrait Brownie, and the No 2 Cartridge Hawk-eye. Very few examples turn up with the Modernist finish, but the most common of these scarce variants in my experience is the No 2 Portrait Brownie. Perhaps the most ideal for a collector looking for a camera with the covering in good condition is the Hawkeye version, as this has a cardboard body and therefore does not suffer with the effects of the corrosion on the underlying aluminium body shell that is a common problem with the other two versions.
Notes
I do not normally attempt to collect series of cameras, but it was interesting in this case to put the complete set of colours together as a set to show the colour variations that exist and on the way also show some of the other design variations that can be found.
Kodak Ltd also made the No 2A variant that uses the larger 116 film (image size 2½ x 4¼ as opposed to 2¼ x 3¼ on 120 film). This too was produced in a set of colours as well as black, but limited to blue, brown, claret and green. These were made from 1930 to 1936, although the black was discontinued in 1935 (according to Coe [4]). The No 2A coloured UK variants for 116 film turn up far less frequently than the No 2 variants.
For comparison, see also the page dedicated to the coloured versions of the US Kodak No 2A Brownie. Compare also with the No 2 Portrait Brownie box camera that also appeared in many of the same colours.
The development of this box camera through earlier models from its introduction in 1901 is illustrated on the No 2 Brownie page.
So which is it: the "No 2 Brownie" or the "Brownie No 2" camera? Actually the two are used interchangeably. On the UK models, the carry handle shows the name as "Brownie No 2", while inside the back of the camera, the alternate form is generally used!