The Kodak No. 2 Folding Autographic Brownie

A close-up photo of the front lens standard and bellows of the Kodak No. 2 Folding Autographic Brownie

The Kodak No. 2 Folding Autographic Brownie is a captivating vintage camera manufactured between 1915 and 1926. It boasts several intriguing features.

  • The front plate is adorned with intricate text that explains the rather peculiar ‘Autotime’ system, a Kodak innovation for setting the exposure.
  • A stylus is provided on the back, enabling users to write notes on the negative using the Autographic feature.
  • The front cover hinges down, revealing a track that extends the lens board and bellows, similar to a large-format camera.
Table of Contents
Kodak No. 2 Folding Autographic Brownie standing in portrait orientation with bellows extended
Kodak No. 2 Folding Autographic Brownie

Camera Specifications

Type and Film-Frame Size: Folding camera using 120 roll film, 6×9 negative.
Manufacturer: Kodak
Years Manufactured: 1915-1926 (with several variations).
Lens:
September 1915-1923: Ball bearing shutter; 1924-1926: Kodex shutter.
Rapid Rectilinear lens:
November 1915-1923: Ball bearing shutter; 1924-April 1926: Kodex shutter.
Kodar f/7.9 lens:
May 1925 – September 1926: Kodex shutter.
UK Variation: Anastigmat f/6.3 lens: 1926: Kodex shutter.
Shutter: Kodex Ball Bearing Shutter with speeds B, T, 1/25 sec., and 1/50 sec.
Aperture: f/8, f/16, f/32, and f/64.
Viewfinder: Reversible reflecting “Brilliant” finder.
Focusing: Sliding focusing with two-position lock.

Variations

February 1916: New style Autographic attachment.
January 1917: Square-ended cases changed to round.
October 1919: Support foot shape changed from shallow S curve to shallow C curve.

A Lucky Find

I stumbled upon this camera in the local village bar. It had been donated by one of the regulars and simply appeared on a display shelf. The camera looked to be in excellent condition, with the shutter and lens functioning properly. The lens was pristine, with only light cleaning marks. Unfortunately, the metal body under the leatherette finish had corroded; this was evident from the small lumps under the leatherette.

Kodak No. 2 Folding Autographic Brownie in landscape orientation
The camera in landscape orientation

Based on information sourced from https://www.brownie-camera.com/83.shtml, the camera I used, which is the subject of this article, is believed to have been manufactured between 1917 and 1919.

Expressing my interest, I was granted permission to take the camera and test it with film.

Kodak Folding Brownies

Kodak Brownie cameras are renowned for their simplicity and affordability, making photography accessible to the masses. However, less well-known are the Folding Brownies. These cameras first appeared in 1904 and served as the precursor to the Kodak No. 2 Folding Autographic Brownie, introduced in 1915.

The Autographic Feature

In 1914, Eastman Kodak acquired Henry Gaisman’s Autographic process, which allowed photographers to write notes directly on the film through a small door on the camera’s back. The first camera to feature this system was the No. 1 Autographic Kodak Special (1914), followed by the No. 2 Autographic Brownie in 1915 (the camera I had). The feature was added to the Vest Pocket Kodak the same year.

Taking photos with the Kodak No. 2 Folding Autographic Brownie

Despite the camera being over a century old, it was surprisingly easy to use. 120 film is readily available, so I loaded it with Kentmere 100 and took it out to try.

Framing the composition was challenging using the tiny 15x15mm “Brilliant” viewfinder. The name is misleading; it’s anything but brilliant. The image is tiny and laterally reversed, making it difficult to make out details; all you can see are highlights and shadows. To steady and level the camera, I used a tripod and a spirit level. With practice, I got better.

A close-up of the lens and bellows of the Kodak No. 2 Folding Autographic Brownie
Lens and bellows extended – note the “Brilliant” viewfinder above the lens

Focus options are limited. There are two notches on the sliding rail, one for near and the other for far. I used the distant setting for most of the photos, except for two.

Exposure is straightforward. There are two shutter speeds: 1/25 sec. and 1/50 sec., plus T and B. I used 1/50 sec. for all the photos and adjusted the aperture accordingly, mostly f/16 to f/32. The aperture doesn’t have click settings, so I interpolated and used in-between settings as indicated by my Sekonic light meter.

Full operating instructions are in the Kodak No. 2 Folding Autographic Brownie Manual.

My Photos

All the photos were shot on 120 Kentmere 100 film, and developed using Spur Acurol-N at 1+70 dilution for 9 minutes. The photos were then digitised using a Nikon Zf with a Tokina Macro lens. The images were then inverted and edited using DXO PhotoLab 8.

Film 1

The negatives are 6×9 cm, so eight frames on a 120 roll of film:

A panoramic black-and-white view of Las Casillas featuring a layout of houses, streets, and rooftops, with rolling hills in the background. The scene captures a quiet, serene atmosphere typical of a rural community.
Frame 1, Exposure: 1/50 sec, Aperture: f32
A black-and-white photograph of a rural landscape featuring a winding dirt road, small houses nestled among hills, and lush greenery in the foreground, set against a backdrop of mountains.
Frame 2, Exposure: 1/50 sec, Aperture: f16
A scenic black and white view of a lakeside landscape featuring a gentle slope leading to a calm body of water, surrounded by distant mountains and sparse vegetation. Small white houses are nestled along the shoreline, enhancing the tranquil setting.
Frame 3, Exposure: 1/50 sec, Aperture: f16
A black and white street scene featuring Bar Casa Moya, a stone-fronted building with a sign, satellite dish, and large windows. To the right, a row of traditional houses with various architectural details, visible on a quiet urban street.
Frame 4, Exposure: 1/50 sec, Aperture: f32
A peaceful street lined with white houses and a decorative wall in Las Casillas. The scene captures a quiet atmosphere with residential architecture.
Frame 5, Exposure: 1/50 sec, Aperture: f32
A black and white photograph of a stone wall with a fuente area, featuring a small tiled roof, and a religeous picture on the wall. The scene is set in an outdoor space, surrounded by a stone path and buildings in the background.
Frame 6, Exposure: 1/50 sec, Aperture: f32
A monochrome image of a playground featuring a swing set and a spring rider. Surrounding the play area are neatly trimmed trees and a low fence, with a building visible in the background. The scene evokes a serene, nostalgic atmosphere.
Frame 7, Exposure: 1/50 sec, Aperture: f16
A quiet village square featuring a landscaped area with palms, surrounded by buildings. There are parked cars and street elements like lampposts and benches, depicted in black and white.
Frame 8, Exposure: 1/50 sec, Aperture: f32

At first glance, the photos look good. They were all perfectly exposed, indicating no problems with the shutter or aperture. However, there were a few apparent issues:

  • Light leaks appearing as light blotches on all frames, mostly near the right-hand side at mid-height (most noticeable in frame 3 above). Testing the bellows revealed several tiny pinholes.
  • A light leak appearing as a linear streak (above the Grainy Photos logo) was present on all except the last frame. I suspect the autographic window was leaking light.
  • The focus is uneven. It is usual for the focus to be sharpest in the middle; however, the focus was poor on the right half of all the frames. This was probably because the front standard wasn’t parallel to the film plane, probably due to the bellows becoming stiff with age.

The light leaks were easy to fix temporarily. I made a bag using blackout material and fitted it over the bellows. It was quick, easy, and effective. I sealed the autograph window with felt fabric and taped over the flap. For good measure, I fitted a darker filter over the frame number viewing window and taped it over when it wasn’t being used to advance the film.

To force the front standard to be parallel to the film plane, I braced it with a turnbuckle screw and adjusted it until it visually looked right.

I loaded another film and tried again…

Film 2

A hillside house with a white exterior and tile roof, surrounded by grassy terrain and rocky outcrops, overlooks a valley with distant village and olive groves under a sky with wispy clouds.
Frame 1, Exposure: 1/50 sec, Aperture: f22
A black and white landscape featuring rocky terrain in the foreground, a calm lake with white houses on the left shore, and distant mountains under a clear sky. The scene captures a tranquil and natural atmosphere.
Frame 2, Exposure: 1/50 sec, Aperture: f22
A black-and-white image of a modern white house with a tiled roof, and a stone patio and a black iron fence. Two benches sit on the patio, framed by a tree, with hills in the background under a clear sky.
Frame 3, Exposure: 1/50 sec, Aperture: f32
A quiet, narrow village street lined with whitewashed buildings, balconies, and trees under a clear sky. The scene is captured in black and white, emphasizing the texture of the cobblestone pavement and the architectural details of the homes.
Frame 4 , Exposure: 1/50 sec, Aperture: f28
A monochrome scene of two empty benches on a tiled terrace by a lake, surrounded by rolling hills and trees. The sunlight casts shadows, enhancing the tranquil atmosphere of the outdoor space.
Frame 5 , Exposure: 1/50 sec, Aperture: f16
A street in a quaint village, featuring charming houses, some with balconies. The scene is captured in black and white, showcasing the serene landscape and the gradual slope leading towards distant hills. A van is parked along one side of the road.
Frame 6 , Exposure: 1/50 sec, Aperture: f16
A quiet plaza featuring palm trees, outdoor seating, a Cafe Bar Mendoza sign, and people enjoying the space. The architecture includes white buildings with balconies, and a lamppost adds to the relaxed atmosphere.
FGrame 7 , Exposure: 1/50 sec, Aperture: f22
A street scene featuring a Bar Casa Moya with a porch, empty tables and chairs outside. A person stands near the entrance. The environment includes a parked car and nearby walls with a rough texture, creating an urban atmosphere.
Frame 8 , Exposure: 1/50 sec, Aperture: f32

Conclusions

The second film was much better, although the focus plane is in the wrong place. Despite using the distance setting, things closer to the camera are sharper than things in the distance. This would be fairly easy to fix, more difficult would be to keep the lens parallel to the film plane.

Nevertheless less, this is a great little camera, which still works well, despite being over one hundred years old.

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