No 3 Folding Brownie Camera

Eastman Kodak Company

Name:	No 3 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 on early models; later models had a metal 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.
Plate / Film Size:	124 rollfilm (for pictures 3¼" x 4¼")
Production Period:	1905 - 1915

The 124 rollfilm was introduced for the No 3 Folding Brownie camera in 1905.

There were several different models of the No 3 Folding Brownie; Coe [4] identifies the Model A, Model B and Model D. Was there a Model C? The short answer is that yes there was - refer to the Notes section at the bottom of this page for further information.

Model / Variant:	Model D
Lens:	Rapid Rectilinear
Shutter:	F.P.K. Automatic Shutter
Movements:	None
Dimensions (w x h x l):
Date of this Example:	c1910
Serial Number:	Serial 57286-F on the underside of the body
Availability:	Common  Uncommon  Hard to Find  Scarce
Inventory Number:	150

<Photographs to be added>

Description

This late example of the No 3 Folding Brownie camera is in good condition, although there is some minor corrosion to the black metal parts, particularly the distance scale. The handle is intact and in good condition. The leatherette covering is in good condition with only minor rounding and rubbing at the front corners.

~ # ~ # ~

Model / Variant:	Model A
Lens:	Meniscus Achromatic
Shutter:	F.P.K. Automatic Shutter
Movements:	None
Dimensions (w x h x l):
Date of this Example:	c1906
Serial Number:	Serial 5352-F embossed into underside of body in the leather
Availability:	Common  Uncommon  Hard to Find  Scarce
Inventory Number:	139

<Photographs to be added>

Description

This example of the No 3 Folding Brownie camera is the earlier type with the polished wooden lens panel.

The No 3 Folding Brownie was introduced in 1905, but replaced by the Model B in 1907 at serial 24159 (according to Coe). So this serial (5352-F) puts it in the 1905 / 1906 era.

This example is generally in good order, the only obvious fault being the missing red window on the back. It needs some attention to the slide rail as the 'parking' section is working loose.

Notes

The early models of this camera with the attractive polished wood lens board are a little harder to find, particularly in Europe.

In common with many other Kodak cameras that were imported into the UK from the US by Kodak Ltd., in 1912 the bellows were changed from the attractive red / maroon to the plainer black.

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.

A fellow collector noted that there was a change to the automatic focusing lock from a three position (8, 20, 100 feet) to a six position lock (6, 8, 10, 15, 25, 100 feet) early on in production. The 1905 Kodak catalogue describes the initial 3 position lock, while the 6 position lock is described in the 1906 catalogue. It is not yet known exactly when this change was introduced. I have yet to see an early example of the camera with the 3 position lock. It would be interesting to know if such a camera is also identified as a Model A on the inside of the back. If you have an early camera with the 3 position lock, please contact me.

A copy of the production order book entry for this camera were obtained from the George Eastman Museum. The typewritten notes identify the dates and serial numbers for Models A, B and D and form the basis of the information provided by Coe. However there is a handwritten addition that identifies the Model C as spanning the serial range "ca 35000 - 42324", although there is no mention of any corresponding design change. In 2021 I finally saw a Model C in a US eBay listing, serial number 41494, with the model quite clearly identified inside the back cover. The Model C exists! I haven't yet been able to work out what design change was introduced with this model.