Photographica Pages

An online guide to collectable cameras and related stuff

Kodak No. 2 and 2A Beau Brownie

The Beau Brownie was designed by Walter Dorwin Teague, along with other Kodaks such as the Super Six-20, the Bantam special and the Gift Kodak. The camera is a metal bodied box camera with an Art Deco face plate, with a two tone enamel pattern on heavy bright chrome. The outer covering matches the enamel.

The Beau Brownie was available in the two sizes that are common to many of the Brownie, No. 2 and 2A. The No.2 used 120 film, creating images that are 2-1/4 x 3-1/4 inched. The 2A made 2-1/2 x 4-1/4 inch images on 116 film. As 120 film is still readily available, it can be fun to take one out and shoot it. To open the camera, you unlatch the two latches, then turn the wind knob while pulling, and it will pull partway out. The back of the camera will then slip off.

Both sizes of the Beau Brownie were available in a black/maroon combination, and in two tone brown, blue, green and rose (pink). The pink and green versions were only made for three months in 1930-31, and the rose is the least common. The other colors were produced from 1930-33. The camera was available by itself, or with an odd shaped case, which when you remove the camera, has a small space in the bottom for two rolls of film.

Many of the cameras pictured here have their original boxes. It should be noted that the boxes were made of  less durable materials, and as the cameras themselves were not expensive, tended to be discarded, making them very uncommon today.

 

The No.2A Beau Brownie in rose.

The No.2 Beau Brownie in rose, with remnants of the box.

The No.2 Beau Brownie in blue, with box.

The No.2A Beau Brownie in blue, with the remnants of the box.

The No.2 Beau Brownie in brown, with box.