Brownie Flash Six-20

[k5083]

<p>A recent online auction lot included a camera I really wanted and some odds 'n ends. One of the odds was a Kodak Brownie Flash Six-20 which the seller had included just as a 620 spool donor. When the box arrived, I realized that this camera was in really good shape. I had never shot with a Brownie nor felt any impulse to, but now suddenly it was near-irresistable.</p>

<p>The Brownie Flash Six-20 (earlier versions were named the Flash Six-20 Brownie) was an immediate postwar upgrade of the prewar Six-20 Brownie Special, the upgrade feature being the addition of contacts for an enormous and hideous flash unit. At a price of $6.00 in 1946 it was pretty high-end for a Brownie. Externally it is an all-metal, tapered box with a curved film plane at the rear. There is little ornamentation but it feels solidly and precisely built.</p>

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[k5083]

<p>Lifting off the top reveals a complex and well-engineered mechanism. The film spools are at the front corners, with the film traveling three-quarters of the way around the camera. It makes a 6x9 exposure. There is a scythe-shaped lock for the shutter button, a lever that switches from normal to bulb mode, and another lever that switches from infinity focus to "5 to 10 feet" by interposing a close-up lens in front of the lens. Those and the wind knob are all the controls you get. The tunnel-like viewfinder sits on top of the camera like an afterthought, and the strap attaches to that like an even further afterthought.</p>

<p>I like to use cameras systematically, and there are two problems with using this camera systematically. The first is getting basic information about it. Even though these were made, no doubt, in huge numbers and Brownie fan sites are legion, none of them provide such esoteric specifications as the lens focal length, aperture f/number, or design shutter speed. I set about figuring these out for myself. Some users estimated the focal length at around 90mm, which seemed right based on my measurements. The aperture is visible through the front of the lens, and holding up a ruler to it, it measured about 7mm. Dividing that by 90 got me an aperture of about f/13 which also seemed about right. The speed of the crude but indestructible rotary shutter, at least, I could test using modern electronic methods, and it proved to be faster than I expected -- pretty close to 1/125.</p>

<p>The second problem was that knowing this information is of limited value because neither aperture nor shutter speed can be varied. You're stuck with f/13 and 1/125, making this very much a sunny-day camera with ISO 100 film. If I were to shoot with it regularly, I guess I'd load ISO 400 film and bring along a ND2 filter for bright conditions. Relying on negative film to tolerate a stop of mis-exposure either way, I'd then have a 4-EV from bright overcast or full shade through sunny conditions where I could expect usable exposures. But what I had on hand was 160 speed Portra, so I waited several days for sufficiently bright conditions, and out I went.</p>

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[k5083]

<p>The Brownie Flash Six-20 adapts easily to 120 film. All you have to do is trim 1mm from around the circumference of the flanges on both the feeder and take-up spools. The blade on the camera's wind shaft is big enough to engage the larger 120 slot without slipping, and the slight extra length of 120 spools is tolerated by the camera, but only just; you have to squeeze it together pretty hard in order to engage the lock that holds the top on. The only other issue is that today's thicker film gets pretty cramped in the take-up chamber toward the end of the roll, and you'll need to apply a fair amount of torque to get the last few inches wound onto the take-up spool.</p>

<p>In the hands it feels reassuringly solid and stable. My viewfinder had a fair amount of particulate crud in it but it still did the job. You have to push so hard on the shutter release to fire the shutter that you have to be careful not to let your hands tremble and shake the camera at the moment of release. </p>

<p>It occurred to me to wonder how many Brownies have ever been pointed at the Chrysler Building. Millions, I'm sure. </p><div></div>

[k5083]

<p>My exposure estimates turned out to be on target. I was surprised at how good the negatives were. Vignetting and chromatic aberration are manifest in the corners, but sharpness is surprisingly good and is maintained pretty well from center to edge. The silly thing is actually a camera!</p>

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[k5083]

<p>Having tried it once for a lark, I can easily see taking this camera out again. It produces unique, slightly dreamy images, and with its tank-like build it could take quite a pounding. Unlike my 6x9 folders, there's nothing delicate on it and very little to fiddle with.</p><div></div>

[Charles_Webster]

<p>I have one of those, including the original flash. I've never taken pictures with mine, you inspire me to do so. Thanks,</p>

<p><Chas><br /></p>

[sg_adams]

<p>I've posted the train image I made with one of these not long ago. My Mom used to use one of these back when they were new, but when I was trying it out the shutter broke. So I picked one up on wePray in very good condition with its hidious flash unit for about the original sale price you posted. Istillhave both. Funny you post this as I have been trying to think up something to use it on the last few days (some things require of me some work up time...). They can rust a bit in humid places and become extremely hard to open. </p>

[sw12dz]

<p>Amazing what some of those simple cameras can produce. But then, it's just a box to keep the dark in and a lens on one end. Looks like I'm going to have to respool some 120>620 this week and get the Brownies out of the cupboard!</p>

[gene m]

<p>Wonderful post.</p>

[subbarayan_prasanna]

<p>Excellent pictures. I think vignetting adds its own charm and characteristic.</p>

[tim_drake]

<p>August- glad to see your having fun with the Brownie Flash. Your post will probably kick up the going price for Kodak Brownies over the weekend. I kicked up my Brownie Bull's Eye loads by adding a neck strap that boldly says Hasselblad, drew many an eye on trip through Yellowstone.</p>

[tomscott]

<p>I just picked up a Brownie Hawkeye Flash model (Bakelite) and a couple of Brownie Junior Six-20s and am anxious to try them out. I found some sites online that sell 620 film but, at those prices I quess it's time to learn to respool 120. One of the Brownie Juniors still had a roll of Kodacolor X 620 film in it.</p>

[george_bonanno]

 

Excellent post.

 

I use mine primarily at night in NYC with big bulbs and respooled Lucky film.

<img src="http://photoflashbulb.com/brownie/brownie.jpg" alt="My camera..." width="400" height="400" />

<img src="http://photoflashbulb.com/brownie/sailors.jpg" alt="Sailors on 2nd Ave." width="600" height="412" />

<img src="http://photoflashbulb.com/brownie/gang_of_five.jpg" alt="Artists in Chelsea" width="600" height="400" />

<img src="http://photoflashbulb.com/brownie/1954belvedere.jpg" alt="1954 Belvedere" width="600" height="401" />

 

[ralf_j.]

<p>Great post and great pictures August.<br>

Might I suggest Madison Square Park which covers the space between 23rd-26th street, and Madison and Broadway? As I was leaving work this past Friday, snow had covered the trees, the benches giving it the setting of a wintery fairy tale. Regards.</p>

[k5083]

<p>George: great pics! Is it fun using a flash that can be seen from low earth orbit?</p>

<p>Ralf: good tip. I spent Saturday morning shoveling the wintry fairy tale off my driveway. I took a few pics but the spirit of the season didn't quite move me. </p>

[george_bonanno]

<p>August: Yes it is... and they're all... blinded by the light. Besides, everyone likes having there picture taken with a big bright flashbulb at night. A Baird Jones quote "When flashbulbs are popping you know it's a good party". </p>

<p>By using a lens shade on the camera the negs will have more snap and appear sharper. Kodak offered a few little known accessories. The No. 2 lens hood (pictured). A No. 7A portrait attachment enabling snapshots from 2 to 4 1/2 feet (using the appropriate Twindar setting). A beautifully made leather case. And of course the handsome flash outfit along with an adapter for smaller No. 5 and 25 flashbulbs. Series VI adapter rings fit this camera enabling use of Series VI filters, hoods, etc. Some photographers on the street dis this camera. But having the right mindset and respooling 120 film <a href="http://www.neta.com/~gstewart/respool.htm">http://www.neta.com/~gstewart/respool.htm</a> the camera is capable of very good pictures. From my observations the lens has an equivalent focal length of a 45mm lens on a 35mm camera... the perfect complement to human vision. </p>

<p>Hopefully more people will go out to the streets and have fun shooting with their Brownie Flash Six-20's.</p>