The first Box Brownie model appeared in 1900. This is a model 2A, made in or shortly after 1916. (It still works!) It was part of the accelerating process of introducing new technologies into everyday use as consumer items. It allowed amateurs to record special or not so special events or even to attempt artistic expression. Cheap, easily portable cameras made the 20th century the first to leave a democratically comprehensive pictorial record, at least in the West. Photography is now a ubiquitous accompaniment to everyday life. Dismantling a camera like this one sixty years ago inspired in me a fascination with photography and the camera still impresses with its simple, economical, and elegant design.
Box Brownie camera
Contributed by John C
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- Location
- Culture
- Period
-
1916
- Theme
- Size
-
- H:
- 13cm
- W:
- 9cm
- D:
- 15.5cm
- Colour
- Material
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Comments
My husband's ancestors bought such a camera in 1908 and pictures they took with it remain in our possession. Here's a link to a very non commercial history blog with some examples from 1910.