Kodak Six-20 Brownie
The Six-20 Brownie box camera was made by Kodak in the US and Kodak Ltd. in the UK between May 1933 & April 1941.
The US and UK models were entirely different in both construction and art-deco fascia. Both took eight 6x9cm images on 620 film.
US Model
The US model's lens feature two focusing zones, "5-10 feet", and "10 feet and beyond" selected by a spring-loaded lever below the lens, and an aperture selection slider. Introduced in March 1933, it was made until April 1941.
The Six-16 Brownie was almost identical to the US Six-20, but slightly larger, for 616 film. The KODAK Six-20 Brownie Junior is also similar, but with a different faceplate, and without the focusing lens.
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| US model images courtesy of ebayer vintagewhiterose (Image rights) | |||||
UK Model
There were two versions of the UK model; the earlier (1934-37) having an unusual strut connection linking the front to the back via a hinged pressure plate, and the later Model B (1937-41) having a more conventional rear door with a sprung catch, and removable film carrier. The controls were arranged around the lens; a small B-I shutter selector (on the early model; moved to the side on later), and two levers. One giving a choice of three distances: "Groups" "Landscapes" and "Portraits", the two closer settings were achieved by swinging in small supplementary lenses. The other lever was for setting the three apertures - labelled "f11 Clear", "16 Bright" and "22 (B Only.) See Manual". The shutter release was on the side; only the first model was equipped with a cable-release socket. The plated brass front has been described as "Kodak Girl" vertical stripes.
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| Six-20 Brownie B (1937-41) image by Geoff Harrisson (Image rights) |
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| UK model (1934-37) | UK model B (1937-41) |
Links
- US model on George Eastman House site
- US model Six-20 & Six-16 manual on Chuck Baker's Brownie-Camera.com
- UK model Six-20 manual on Chuck Baker's Brownie-Camera.com
- Early UK model & Late UK model on BrownieCamera.nl
- Six-20 Brownie on YouTube
- Six-20 Brownie model C on www.collection-appareils.fr by Sylvain Halgand (in French)
