Badger's Box Brownie Challenge

Was that dagfields?

This is the fusty forum. Time happens a lot more slowly so 6 months in here is like 6 days out there :D
 
excalibur2 said:
Saw a beautyflex TLR at the bootie and never heard of that either. h'mm I suppose everyone else has :rolleyes:
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@Yv had (or has) one and posted quite a bit about it, may even have taken it to the Lakes. But no, I hadn't heard of it before that, either.
 
Beat me to it, Chris!
 
Alastair said:
Could be interesting, I've a Brownie (need to check model and date) and a 1950's bakelite Conway that I inherited - both of which I need some incentive to clean, test and shoot. I'd be more convinced to join in if I could use both - maybe widen it to all box cameras with pre-1936 and post-1936 classes?
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What do you think @Mr Badger could we have two classes? Pre and post 1936. I'll certainly try and source an early one but it would mean I could run a roll through the 50's version too.
 
If enough people to make it worthwhile would like a post-1936 class then I've no problem with that. However, as I mentioned in the 'registration' thread, lens quality improved significantly over the years so it won't be as much of a level playing field as it would if using a pre-36 camera with simple meniscus type lens. That was the reason I suggested a pre-1936 date, as taking a nice-looking photo would then be down to the skill (or luck!) of the photographer, rather than trying to compare a 'soft in the corners' photo with a 'sharp all over' one from a post-war Box Brownie.

Anyway, let me know if you would like a post-1936 class, and if more than about 5 people want to take part then I'll add it to the registrations thread and amend the rules. (y)
 
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Mr Badger said:
If enough people to make it worthwhile would like a post-1936 class then I've no problem with that. However, as I mentioned in the 'registration' thread, lens quality improved significantly over the years so it won't be as much of a level playing field as it would if using a pre-36 camera with simple meniscus type lens. That was the reason I suggested a pre-1936 date, as taking a nice-looking photo would then be down to the skill (or luck!) of the photographer, rather than trying to compare a 'soft in the corners' photo with a 'sharp all over' one from a post-war Box Brownie.

Anyway, let me know if you would like a post-1936 class, and if more than about 5 people want to take part then I'll add it to the registrations thread and amend the rules. (y)
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That's great, like I said I still want to find a pre 1936 camera but if there's both classes I can start using the 1950's vintage Model C straight away.
 
Are the post 1936 ones more likely to take normal 120 film without any arsing about?
 
srichards said:
Are the post 1936 ones more likely to take normal 120 film without any arsing about?
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But "arsing about" is what fusty and crusty is all about.
 
srichards said:
Are the post 1936 ones more likely to take normal 120 film without any arsing about?
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No, I think most of the standard pre-36 BBs took 120, with just a few specific models taking 116, 620, etc. but quite a few post 36 ones seem to take 620 (the 'Six 20' models being a case in point!). The pre-36 leatherette models usually had an embossed badge on the back door that stated 120 in the middle of the logo if it took that size film, so it shouldn't be that hard to tell them apart. (y)

I seem to recall reading that the Box Brownie was responsible for Kodak making 120 size roll film in the first place, so we have it to thank for the existence of that size film. :)
 
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I might look out for one with 120 stamped on the back then. Not that I need yet another camera at all but somehow I'll end up being pulled into this craziness :D
 
Checked the shelf, and I have a BB No.2 and a Conway Popular - I'll see if I can date the latter more accurately from a detailed examination, but the basic design was unchanged from 1931 into the '50s. As it's not a Brownie I'd consider it for a post-'36/non-Brownie class. I was sure it was a later Conway.
 
Here you go Suz, this is what you're looking for, so no excuse not to go crazy now! :D

 
Alastair said:
Checked the shelf, and I have a BB No.2 and a Conway Popular - I'll see if I can date the latter more accurately from a detailed examination, but the basic design was unchanged from 1931 into the '50s. As it's not a Brownie I'd consider it for a post-'36/non-Brownie class. I was sure it was a later Conway.
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Hold on, no one mentioned a 'non-Brownie' class... this is getting daft! :confused: Tell you what, for the sake of simplicity (and my sanity!), why don't we stick with the original idea of a Box Brownie Challenge using pre-1936 Kodak Box Brownies only, but also have a non-competitive 'Box Camera Gallery' thread so people with any make or model of box camera can post their photos on that? It might make interesting viewing, particularly if people post a photo of the camera they used, and info on the film type, etc. How does that sound?
 
Sounds good to me mr badger (y)
 
Mr Badger said:
Hold on, no one mentioned a 'non-Brownie' class... this is getting daft! :confused: Tell you what, for the sake of simplicity (and my sanity!), why don't we stick with the original idea of a Box Brownie Challenge using pre-1936 Kodak Box Brownies only, but also have a non-competitive 'Box Camera Gallery' thread so people with any make or model of box camera can post their photos on that? It might make interesting viewing, particularly if people post a photo of the camera they used, and info on the film type, etc. How does that sound?
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That makes sense, and is kind of what I meant. "Only Brownie and only pre-'36" excludes a lot of family heirloom box cameras that we already own as a group, so giving a "run what you brung" fun class for other box cameras alongside your original idea widens participation. Particularly for me, as the innards of the Conway look in better shape than the Brownie!
 
Mr Badger said:
Hold on, no one mentioned a 'non-Brownie' class... this is getting daft! :confused: Tell you what, for the sake of simplicity (and my sanity!), why don't we stick with the original idea of a Box Brownie Challenge using pre-1936 Kodak Box Brownies only, but also have a non-competitive 'Box Camera Gallery' thread so people with any make or model of box camera can post their photos on that? It might make interesting viewing, particularly if people post a photo of the camera they used, and info on the film type, etc. How does that sound?
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That's a brill idea Mr Badger as I suspect I'm not alone in that the box camera{s} that I do have tend to be very low down on my " go to" cameras so although they do get used, it generally is very occasionally.
A thread like you suggest may well encourage me to run more film through them just to see if I can get softer corners than anyone else in my frames:D
 
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