by Damien Liew
 Looking at brightening up your camera collection, why not take a look at the wonderful array of coloured box cameras that are available on the market. Companies such as Kodak, Agfa-Ansco, Coronet and Ensign marketed most in the late 1920’s to the 50’s. The best one’s during the 30’s when Art deco style was in fashion such as the Kodak Beau Brownie.
The camera I am writing about from my collection is the Kodak No.2 Portrait Brownie camera. This smart looking model was introduced in 1929 and discontinued 1935. It was the first design and manufactured camera to come out of the newly built Kodak Factory in Harrow London. It is of the box shape made of metal. Taking 120 film giving a 6x9cm image or 2¼ x 3¼”. The lens is a Meniscus with built in portrait lens, in front of a Rotary shutter. Camera has two brilliant finders one each for portrait and landscape
  The front of the camera has an angled edge and has a raised round plastic lens surround with white lettered Portrait Brownie at the top and No.2 at the bottom. It has a thin aluminum metal line on front, which joins to an oval around finders. Behind the plastic as mentioned earlier is a built in portrait lens moved in place when taking a photo by pulling a lever on the side.
The body is covered in one of seven colours, Red, Blue, Maroon, Dark green, Grey, Brown and Black of leatherette material. It has a black metal trim and handle. The camera had two different winders 1929-31 a Key winder and 1931-35 a knob winder. Inside is a metal film carrier. Lifting a metal clasp opens the back.
 I got my first one about 7 years ago in red. My sister was on a working holiday in London and saw one at an antique market. She knew I was collecting old cameras so she contacted me by phone told me the condition looked good as far as she could see and she described it. Not having one and taking a punt I told her to get it. It cost about 20 pounds.
The next one was the black one I got for about $5 at a camera market. The other colours I bought over the years of various prices, the dearest about $100.
I am lucky enough to have an original advertising poster sign of the camera as well. It came out of an old chemist shop from behind a wall shelf. Not 100% it does have a little bit of mould and a few pot marks but looks great.
When collecting/buying these cameras be aware that they are now between 75-80 years old. Some are found with leatherette shrinking or lifting due to the glue age. The black painted edges sometimes are worn or dented. The top handle can also be dried out or broken. Not much can usually happen to the basic shutter and an airbrush can blow out any dirt. The viewing mirrors can sometimes be loose or losing their silver.
 These cameras may still be used today as 120 film is still available. (Not sure for how much longer). There are still great examples out there, if you wait.
Coloured versions green and brown are hard to find. Black is also as it was made two years less than the others. I do see Red, Grey and Blue a lot on eBay. I have seen one or two with the original yellow package box with Brownie character on them sell for around $500. One was from Australia I remember; I think it has gone overseas. These cameras were also imported and sold in Australia. Thanks Lyle.
There is also a very rare Black Modernist covering version released in Nov 1930 UK for Christmas in limited numbers.
Otherwise compared to your standard box camera these stand out from the crowd and look great on display.
Happy collecting. |
