Kodak Brownie Reflex

Brownie Reflex US non-sync model

Brownie Reflex UK synchronised model

Rear view; film carrier removed Red window open

The Kodak Brownie Reflex non-synchronized camera was manufactured from May 1940 to Aug 1942 in the US. It had a simple Bakelite body camera with a main lens and a second-surface keystone reflecting mirror viewfinder. The viewfinder had a hinged sheet metal cover. The winder was on the base, which was removable for film loading. Note the lack of flash synchronization terminals below the main lens on the non-sync model.

The Kodak Brownie Reflex Synchro model was manufactured from Sept 1941-May 1952 in the US and from 1946 to May 1960 in the UK; some were also made in Candada. Thus overall the model had a 20 year production run. The synchro model had a two-pin flash connector below the taking lens, and had the shutter selector inverted.

The design was patented in 1940 by designer Henry O. Drotning as US Patent D119931.

Specifications

• Type: Twin Lens reflex (TLR)
• Manufacturer: Kodak / Kodak Ltd.
• Year of launch: 1940
• Price: 5.25 USD
• Film: 127 roll film
• Format: 4cm×4cm
• Exposures: 12
• Finder: reflex
• Aperture: fixed
• Lens: fixed-focus meniscus, 5 feet to infinity
• Shutter: I (instantaneous) 1/30 sec and B (bulb mode)

Links

• UK Brownie reflex page
• Brownie Reflex on www.collection-appareils.fr by Sylvain Halgand
• Brownie Reflex Synchro model on Brownie-Camera.com
• Brownie Reflex on George Eastman House site
• Brownie Reflex Synchro and photos taken with it
• Kodak Brownie Reflex, by Daniel Jiménez, at Del infinito al plano focal (in Spanish)