No 3A Folding Brownie Camera

Eastman Kodak Company

Name:	No 3A 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 metal & wood body. Hinged back released by sliding catch. Metal 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:	1909 - 1915

 

Plate / Film Size:	122 rollfilm (for pictures 3¼" x 5½")
Lens:	Rapid Rectilinear
Shutter:	F.P.K. Automatic Shutter
Movements:	None
Dimensions (w x h x l):
Date of this Example:	c1912
Serial Number:	Serial 66891 on the underside of the body
Availability:	Common  Uncommon  Hard to Find  Scarce
Inventory Number:	459

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Description

This example of the No 3A Folding Brownie camera is in very good condition.

The serial number confirms that this model is likely to date to about half way through the production period (1909 - 1915), but dates to before 1914 when the shutter was changed to the Brownie Ball Bearing type, according to Coe [4].

Some very minor corrosion on the focus scale and valve, but otherwise a very clean example. The handle is intact and in good condition. The leatherette covering in very good condition; the bellows are in very good order and a lovely deep maroon colour.

Notes

As with the No 3 Folding Brownie camera, different lens & shutter combinations were used on this camera, but the standard equipment were permutations of the F.P.K. Automatic shutter or Ball Bearing shutter and the Meniscus Achromatic or Rapid Rectilinear lens.

This is the largest of the set of two Folding Brownie cameras (No 3, No 3A); the smaller sizes are identified as the Folding Pocket Brownie cameras (No 2, No 2A).