Camera - Kodak Brownie Six-20
Production date
Jan 1937-1940
Country
England
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Object detail
Description
This Brownie camera is a self erecting folding (bellows) roll film type, with a folding frame finder. The camera used 620 film, and produced a picture size 2.25 x 3.25 inches. It has a Kodette II shutter mechanism and a meniscus lens. It has a leather hand strap on one side. The shutter button is to one side of the lens.
The camera body has a grained black leatherette covering over black painted steel. The handle on the front door is missing.
Cover on back is hinged on one side with a clip on other. The front door hinged with one side attached to lens and bellows. As the cover opens the lens is advanced and the bellows unfolds.To refold bellows and stow the lens, the mechanism is released with the lock open button.
The camera body has a grained black leatherette covering over black painted steel. The handle on the front door is missing.
Cover on back is hinged on one side with a clip on other. The front door hinged with one side attached to lens and bellows. As the cover opens the lens is advanced and the bellows unfolds.To refold bellows and stow the lens, the mechanism is released with the lock open button.
Classification
PHOTOGRAPHY Cameras Still kodak
Maker
Production date
Jan 1937-1940
Production place
Measurements
H75 x W160 x D35mm
Media/Materials description
Leather, Nickel (Metal Plating) Steel
Signature/Marks
SIX-20 FOLDING 'BROWNIE'\MADE IN GREAT BRITAIN'
''BROWNIE'\DAKON SHUTTER\T B 25 50\32 22 16 11 8 6 3\MOUNT 370 KODAK LONDON 100MM. AN ASTON F/6.3'
USE...\KODAK\"620"\CAUTION\TO AVOID DAMAGE\USE\KODAK "620" FILM'
''BROWNIE'\DAKON SHUTTER\T B 25 50\32 22 16 11 8 6 3\MOUNT 370 KODAK LONDON 100MM. AN ASTON F/6.3'
USE...\KODAK\"620"\CAUTION\TO AVOID DAMAGE\USE\KODAK "620" FILM'
History and use
This Kodak Brownie Six-20 belongs to a collection of objects used by Maude Rose "Lores" Bonney (1897–1994), one of the great early Australian airwomen.
Bonney was the first Australian woman to gain a commercial pilots licence, the first woman to fly around Australia, the first woman to fly from Australia to England, and the first person – of either sex – to fly solo from Australia to South Africa.
This Six-20 Folding Brownie camera was released by Kodak Limited of the United Kingdom in 1937, the year of Bonney’s flight to South Africa. It would have been useful for Bonney’s travels because it could fold away, occupying less space when not in use. Most Brownie cameras were box cameras, but a few folding camera models were produced from 1904. They were more basic than other folding cameras, with little or no variation in lens or shutter options, but for this reason they were cheaper and easier to use.
Bonney was the first Australian woman to gain a commercial pilots licence, the first woman to fly around Australia, the first woman to fly from Australia to England, and the first person – of either sex – to fly solo from Australia to South Africa.
This Six-20 Folding Brownie camera was released by Kodak Limited of the United Kingdom in 1937, the year of Bonney’s flight to South Africa. It would have been useful for Bonney’s travels because it could fold away, occupying less space when not in use. Most Brownie cameras were box cameras, but a few folding camera models were produced from 1904. They were more basic than other folding cameras, with little or no variation in lens or shutter options, but for this reason they were cheaper and easier to use.
Associated person
Registration number
H24595.1
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