No 2 Folding Brownie camera

Eastman Kodak Company

Name:	No 2 Folding Brownie
Type:	Folding (rollfilm)
Manufacturer:	Eastman Kodak Company
Country of Origin:	US
Construction:	Horizontal format folding rollfilm camera where the lens standard is pulled out on a track fixed to the wooden baseboard. Leatherette covering over rectangular wooden body. Hinged back released by sliding catch. Wooden lens panel. Brilliant finder fixed to one side of the baseboard, which can be rotated through 90 degrees to allow the camera to be used in portrait or landscape orientation. Focusing scale and focus lock on baseboard.
Production Period:	1904 - 1907

The No 2 Folding Brownie was replaced by the No 2 Folding Pocket Brownie camera (identified as the Model B) in 1907; both used 120 rollfilm.

Plate / Film Size:	120 rollfilm (for pictures 2¼" x 3¼")
Lens:	Meniscus achromatic
Shutter:	Brownie Automatic (early form)
Movements:	None
Dimensions (w x h x l):
Date of this Example:	c1905
Serial Number:	Serial TBC
Availability:	Common  Uncommon  Hard to Find  Scarce
Inventory Number:	178

<Photographs to be added>

Description

This example of the No 2 Folding Brownie camera is in reasonably good condition, although there is some scuffing to the imitation leather covering. The covering material is wearing thin in a few places, notably over the opening button and underneath.

It has red bellows and an attractive wooden lens panel. The Brownie Automatic shutter limits its date of manufacture to 1904 to 1905; according to Coe [4] the Pocket Automatic shutter was used from 1905.

Again according to Coe, the metal bodied No 2 Folding Pocket Brownie is apparently about 20% smaller than the No 2 Folding Brownie. In putting the two side-by-side the difference does not look much like 20%, more like 5%! However the No 2 Folding Pocket Brownie is much less bulky due to its metal body.

Notes

There are two easy ways to distinguish the No 2 Folding Brownie and the No 2 Folding Pocket Brownie. The former has a wooden lens panel, while the latter has a metal panel. The No 2 Folding Brownie has a sliding catch to lock the hinged rear panel, which is easily visible on the top of the camera. The two different materials used for the bodies is also apparent, particularly if you look at the top edge - if it is thick (wood) then it is a No 2 Folding Brownie. The name is printed inside the back and is also embossed into the handle on the top face.