Box Brownie Challenge Entries Thread

[Mr Badger]

This ‘just for fun’ challenge is open to anyone with a pre-1936 Kodak Brownie Box Camera, the aim being to see who can take the nicest looking photo using one of these cheap and simple vintage cameras. The rules are as follows:

• Entries must have been taken using a genuine, pre-1936, Kodak Brownie Box Camera (eg a Kodak Brownie Number 2 or earlier). Not sure if your camera qualifies? You should be able to identify the model and its approximate year of manufacture on the following link: http://www.brownie.camera/
• To register to enter you need to post a photo of your camera on the registration thread here: https://www.talkphotography.co.uk/threads/brownie-box-camera-challenge-registration-thread.649482/ .
• After registering, you have until 31st of October 2017 to take a photo with your camera and enter it.
• After the closing date (midnight on the 31st October 2017), a poll will be held for 7 days so people can vote for the three photos they like the best. The one with the most votes wins.

Depending on the standard of entry, we may also have a separate poll for the most amusing or disappointing failure too, so let me know via a post on the registration thread if people want to enter that.

Best of luck everyone.

 

[Mr Badger]

I thought I'd better start the entries thread off.

I recently attended a local village fete where the American Civil War Society was providing a skirmish re-enactment demonstration, so I thought it might be worth seeing if I could produce an authentic looking photo using my Box Brownie. My thanks go to the ACWS members who were happy to help and despite the sun going in (which resulted in me not being able to see very much through the viewfinder!), I think we managed to pretty much nail the 'look':

American Civil War by J White, on Flickr

Kodak No 2 Brownie, Model F, made in Canada circa 1924. Fuji Neopan Acros 100 film.

 

[Andysnap]

Very much like that Mr B.

I have started shooting with my BB, another 4 shots to go before developing so hopefully something to show next week.

Andy

 

[Mr Badger]

Thanks Andy, best of luck with your photos, there's plenty of time yet but I thought I'd get the ball rolling.

 

[Andysnap]

1924 Box Brownie No2 on Ektar. Black Country Living Museum.

Main-Street-BC-Museum-Sept-2017 by Andy, on Flickr

 

[shapeshifter]

Which film size is used with these Box Brownies?

 

[Mr Badger]

The ones used for the photos above take 120 medium format roll film, which provides 8 shots per roll. However, the Brownie name was used on quite a few different Kodak box cameras and some took different size film, some of which is unobtainable now. If you are looking to buy one then the easiest option is to go for one that uses 120 roll film. Hope this is useful.

 

[FishyFish]

Is there a list anywhere if which box cameras take 120 film (or an easy way to check when examining one - assuming it doesn't say on the 'box' ).

 

[Mr Badger]

There's info on the box brownie range of cameras on this link: http://www.brownie.camera/ It's a very comprehensive site so it can take a bit of time to explore and get the hang of, but the spec given for each camera includes the film type it takes. So if you have a smartphone and bookmark the website, then see a box Brownie for sale somewhere you can look up the model type, compare the photo to check it's the right one, then check what size film it takes.

Quite often though, on the older cameras, the film size number is embossed (together with the model type and number) on the back film door: 120, 620, etc. An internet search should tell you if the film size type is still readily available. Hope this is useful.

Anyway, enough talk, let's get some more entries in on this thread (closing date is 30th Oct), and we can continue any questions and chat on this thread: https://www.talkphotography.co.uk/threads/brownie-box-camera-challenge-registration-thread.649482/

 

[ancient_mariner]

We have a smooth painted Hawkeye from my father in law, but it takes 127 film, and may be a little too recent in any case http://camera-wiki.org/wiki/Baby_Hawkeye_(Kodak)

 

[D_M_J]

Lytham Windmill. 1914 Kodak No.2 Box Brownie...

Lytham_Windmill_Box_Brownie-1 by David M Jones, on Flickr

 

[Mr Badger]

Quick reminder to everyone, closing date is midnight tomorrow (31st October), so not much time left so get those last-minute entries in.

 

[Nomad Z]

Society Point, Firth Of Forth, No2 Brownie on expired Acros.

 

[Mr Badger]

Entries are now closed. I'll put a poll up this evening.

 

[Mr Badger]

The voting is now open - as there were only 4 entries I've set a maximum of 2 choices per voter. The poll will run for 7 days. So cast your votes now and may the best Brownie win.