Kodak Brownie 127

Brownie 127 Second model

The Brownie 127 was, in the UK, an extremely popular plastic snapshot viewfinder model made in England by Kodak Ltd.

From introduction in 1952, over a million had been made by August 1954, and the series continued to sell many more millions. A few (~263,000) of the first model were exported to the US in 1953-4, where they were badged Brownie Starlet - and should not be confused with the more common Brownie Starlet.

Brownie 127 First Model shown open

The first version of the camera had a rounded shape, where the film carrier mechanism and viewfinder were attached to the top of the camera, which lifted out the base. The base carried the lens and shutter. There were many small changes of faceplate and detailing. The third version of the camera was made of grey plastic and completely reshaped to have flat sides, angled corners, and square images. The shutter speed and lens aperture were fixed; the only controls were wind-on and shutter release. A shoe for a special Kodak flash-holder was added to the top.

Specification

• Manufacturer: Kodak Ltd., UK

	First model	Second model	Third model
Description:	rounded, stepped sides	rounded, sloping sides, vertical lines; larger viewfinder	angled corners flash synch
In production:	1952-1959	April 1959-1963	November 1965-November 1967
Lens:	Meniscus f/14 64mm	Dakon f/11, plastic	f/14 51mm, plastic
Shutter:	Rotary, 1/50s	Rotary	Rotary, 1/40s
Frame size:	6x4cm	6x4cm	4x4cm

• Film: 127 film

The Brownie Cresta was a similar camera, but larger and with a close-focus setting, some angles introduced and made for 120 film.

Sources

• Coe, Brian, Kodak Cameras, the First Hundred Years, Hove Foto Books, 1987
• Chuck Baker's Brownie Camera site - including instruction books

Links

• Brownie 127 on OneTwoSeven.com
• 1956 model on Brownie-Camera.com by Chuck Baker
• Third, 1965 model on Brownie-Camera.com by Chuck Baker
• Second model Instruction Manual on Chuck Baker's site.