Antique & Vintage Photographic Equipment

No 2 Folding Autographic Brownie camera

Eastman Kodak Company

Name: No 2 Folding Autographic Brownie
Type: Folding (Rollfilm)
Manufacturer: Eastman Kodak Company
Country of Origin: US
Construction: Conventional vertical format folding camera where the lens standard is pulled out on a track fixed to the baseboard. Imitation leather covering over a metal body. Autographic back with stylus held in clip adjacent to autographic window. Brilliant finder at top centre of the lens standard. Focussing scale on baseboard, which is notched at preset distances to engage with a catch on side of the lens standard.

Early versions were produced in a rectangular, square ended format. This changed quite early on to the more usual body shape with rounded ends.

Plate / Film Size: 120 rollfilm (autographic) for pictures 2¼" x 3¼"
Movements: None
Dimensions (w x h x l):  
Production Period: 1915 - 1917 (square end); 1917 - 1926 (rounded ends). See Notes

The Folding Autographic Brownie cameras were introduced in 1915 as relatively cheap but sound folding cameras for the newly introduced autographic film. While they offered alternative lenses and shutters over the period of their manufacture, they were more basic than their Folding Pocket Kodak counterparts.

Model / Variant: Square ended model
Lens: Achromatic
Shutter: Ball Bearing
Date of this Example: c1917
Serial Number: Serial 110356
Availability:
  • Common [ ]
  • Uncommon [x]
  • Hard to Find [ ]
  • Scarce [ ]
Inventory Number: 131

<Photographs to be added>

Description

This is an example of the square ended model of the No 2 Folding Autographic Brownie. The format changed to round ended from serial 133,301 according to Coe [4].

There is some minor paint loss on the exposed metal parts and some minor damage to the leather covering.; The support is fragile - it flops around a little, so handle with care!

~ # ~ # ~

Model / Variant: Round ended model
Lens: Meniscus Anchromatic
Shutter: Ball Bearing
Date of this Example: c1931
Serial Number: Serial 788024 on rear of stand.
Availability:
  • Common [x]
  • Uncommon [ ]
  • Hard to Find [ ]
  • Scarce [ ]
Inventory Number: 101

<Photographs to be added>

Description

The later model of the No 2 Folding Autographic Brownie is a conventional folding camera with autographic back. The date is based on that shown on inside front cover of the instruction book (December 1922).

The camera retains its original slip carton, which is in good condition. No splits, but blank panel on back has been marked in pencil. The camera is quite stiff to open.

Original instructions in excellent condition. Slight soiling and bend in paper, most noticeable at the back cover which is creased.

Notes

There were three distinct sizes of Folding Autographic Brownie produced in this format: the No 2 for 12 rollfilm as detailed here, the No 2A for 116 rollfilm and therefore slightly larger, and the No 2C for 130 rollfilm, the largest of the set.