Kodak No 2 Portrait Brownie (UK Model)
Kodak Limited
| Name: | No 2 Portrait Brownie |
| Manufacturer: | Kodak Ltd |
| Country of Origin: | United Kingdom |
| Construction: | A basic box camera of metal construction, with a
textured leatherette covering. The main bodyshell is the same as that used for the No 2 Brownie box camera. However it is fitted with a front section of greater depth that houses a portrait lens that can be swung into position in front of the main lens. |
| Plate / Film Size: | 120 rollfilm |
| Lens: | Meniscus |
| Shutter: | Simple rotary shutter |
| Movements: | None |
| Dimensions (w x h x l): | |
| Production Period: | 1929 - 1935 |
The No 2 Portrait Brownie box camera was made in the UK by Kodak Ltd at the factory in Harrow from 1929 through to 1935. While the cameras were made in large numbers, some of the colours are harder to find than others. In my experience the scarcity of the UK models runs in the following order (most common to least):
- Black
- Blue
- Claret
- Brown
- Green
- Grey
- Red
- Modernist
Note that unlike the UK model of the No 2 Brownie, the No 2 Portrait Brownie box camera was not produced in a Silver finish to celebrate the Silver Jubilee of King George V in 1935.
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There are a number of small variations in design that may be encountered. The basic No 2 Brownie bodyshell that was used appears as both Model E and Model F variants.
| Model / Variant: | Black |
| Date of this Example: | c1930 |
| Serial Number: | None |
| Availability: |
|
| Inventory Number: | 137 |
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Description
This black version of the Kodak No 2 Portrait Brownie box camera has a winder key rather than a round knob, so presumably if it is like the UK model of the No 2 Brownie, this must be from 1929-31.
The camera is in fair condition, but with quite extensive bubbling to the surface of the leatherette covering. The covering has also shrunk back a little from the rear door (a common problem with all these cameras). The handle is present and is in good order.
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| Model / Variant: | Blue |
| Date of this Example: | |
| Serial Number: | None |
| Availability: |
|
| Inventory Number: | 562 |
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Description
Kodak No 2 Portrait Brownie box camera in blue colour, which has a knob rather than a winder key, so presumably this must date to after 1931. Camera is in good condition, with no obvious bubbling to the surface of the leatherette covering, which has double decorative lines stamped into each face. Front face shows no corrosion to aluminium and the black surround is in very good condition with only minor damage to the black enamelled surround.
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| Model / Variant: | Claret |
| Date of this Example: | c1930 |
| Serial Number: | None |
| Availability: |
|
| Inventory Number: | 136 |
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Description
Claret coloured Kodak No 2 Portrait Brownie box camera in good order. It has a winder key rather than a knob, so dates to the period 1929-31. The camera is in fair condition, but with quite extensive bubbling to the surface of the leatherette covering.
One corner of the aluminium front has a bash, which has removed the black paint. The surface is bubbling quite badly and has shrunk back from the rear door. The handle is present and is in good order.
It is complete with booklet Picture Making with the Nos 2 and 2A Brownies
, which
has a date code suggesting 1929 and a similar indication on the date prefix
(192x) on the form for the Kodak magazine. It is a little tatty, with a
cover that is going brown and is loose from the remainder.
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| Model / Variant: | Brown |
| Date of this Example: | c1932 |
| Serial Number: | None |
| Availability: |
|
| Inventory Number: | 405 |
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Description
Kodak No 2 Portrait Brownie box camera in brown colour, which has a knob rather than winder key, so again this presumably must be dated to after 1931. The camera is in good condition, with no obvious bubbling to the surface of the leatherette covering. The front face shows no corrosion to the aluminium and the black surround is in very good condition with no paint missing.
The came complete with the instruction booklet - Instructions for use of the No 2 Portrait "Brownie" - consisting of about 30 pages. It was published by Kodak Ltd and carries a date code of 1129 on the back page.
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| Model / Variant: | Green |
| Date of this Example: | c1930 |
| Serial Number: | None |
| Availability: |
|
| Inventory Number: | 411 |
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Description
Green Kodak No 2 Portrait Brownie box camera. It is fitted with a winder key rather than a knob, so presumably if like Brownie No2, this must date to 1931 or earlier.
The camera is in good condition, with no obvious bubbling to the surface of the leatherette covering, but signs of wear through use around the winder key. The front face shows no corrosion to aluminium and the black surround is in very good condition with only minor damage on the bottom hidden edge.
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| Model / Variant: | Grey |
| Date of this Example: | c1932 |
| Serial Number: | None |
| Availability: |
|
| Inventory Number: | 460 |
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Description
Grey Kodak No 2 Portrait Brownie box camera in very good order, which has winder key rather than a knob, so presumably if like Brownie No2, this must be before 1931.
The camera is in fair condition, but with quite bubbling to the surface of the leatherette covering. The front face shows some corrosion to the aluminium and the leatherette is lifting slightly at one corner. The black rim has some wear at the corners.
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| Model / Variant: | Red |
| Date of this Example: | c1930 |
| Serial Number: | None |
| Availability: |
|
| Inventory Number: | 554 |
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Description
Red coloured Kodak No 2 Portrait Brownie box camera in good order. It has winder key rather than a knob, so dates to the period 1929-31. The camera is in good condition, but with bubbling to the surface of the leatherette covering, which has also shrunk away from the rear door line.
The black aluminium front edging is in fair condition with some paint loss, most noticeably on the bottom corners. The handle is present and is in good order.
Notes
I do not normally collect series of cameras, but it was interesting in this case to put the complete set of colours together as a set to show the colour variations that exist and to allow a comparison with the No 2 Brownie box camera.
This camera was only made in the 120 rollfilm size; it was not available for 116 film (no equivalent of the No 2A Brownie camera).
Bubbling in the leatherette and damage or paint loss to the black surround to the front face are the most common problems that detract from the display quality of these cameras.