Kodak Brownie Flash II, III and IV

Brownie Flash IV Camera with case image by Terry Senior (Image rights)

The Kodak Brownie Flash II, III and IV were box cameras, taking 2¼ × 3¼" exposures on type 620 film. Construction was of sheet metal, with plastic shutter-release button and advance knob; they were made by Kodak Ltd. in England from 1957-1960. They were improved versions of the Brownie Models C, D, E, and F.

The Flash II and III were black with a green-striped front panel; the Flash IV was brown with gilt-effect finish on the exposed metal parts and a light-coloured leather-effect covering on the body. It is very similar to the Flash B model, but adds a tripod bush and has differently-shaped close-up and filter sliders. The Flash II had a slider for close-ups and a tripod bush, the Flash III and IV had the close-up slider and added a yellow "cloud" filter, a cable release socket plus a shutter lock to prevent accidental exposures (with care, this can be used to give 'T' shutter for very long exposure, but a locking cable release is better).

Each was synchronised for flash with Kodak's screw-and-pin flash fitting on the opposite side to the controls.

Some 500,000 Flash II models were also made in Melbourne, Australia by Kodak Pty Ltd., between 1958 and 1963 - a country with a population of under 10.4 million in 1960.

Specifications

• Camera type: box camera
• Manufacturer: Kodak Ltd., UK
• Year of launch:
  • Flash II: 1956 (UK), 1958 (Aus)
  • Flash III: 1957
  • Flash IV: 1957
• Withdrawn:
  • Flash II: 1959 (UK), 1963 (Aus)
  • Flash III: 1960
  • Flash IV: 1959;
• Film: type 620 roll film
• Lens/Shutter:
  • Flash II: Kodet with close-up lens
  • Flash III, IV: f/14 Kodet with close-up lens and yellow filter

References

McKeown, p480

Links

• Flash II, Flash II (Australia), Flash III, Flash IV] on Chuck Baker's Brownie page.
• Flash II, Flash II (Australia), Flash III, Flash IV ] on www.BROWNIE.camera.
• Flash II (UK), Flash II (Oz), Flash III, and Flash IV on http://www.collection-appareils.fr (in French)
• 1959 advertisement for Brownie Flash II at Trove

Gallery

Brownie Flash II, showing screw & pin flash contacts image by AWCam (Image rights)

Brownie Flash II, with Brownie Flash Holder 3 image by AWCam (Image rights)

Brownie Flash II, made in Australia image by Damien Quick (Image rights)