Brownie Reflex Synchro Model

We went to Rutledge on Sunday: Brett & me and Joe.

Joe got way cool retro glassware and some other cool vintage stuff, and I got another old camera, a Kodak Brownie Reflex Synchro Model (mfg. from 1942-1951). I’ve already ordered film for it (custom film, apparently, since Kodak no longer manufactures original 127 film), and am trolling eBay for a flash attachment.

Here’s the manual in PDF format if you really want to be geeked out.

I love the smell of old cameras, and this one smells as groovy as my wonderful old Polaroid (1965-1967). It was so full of gunk that the ‘reflex’ part didn’t work at all until I disassembled the camera completely and washed the mold off of the mirror and lenses with dish soap and warm water. (Not the shuttered photo lense, of course – that I cleaned with a Q-tip.)

The shutter seems to function properly. As it’s basically the only moving part of the camera (besides the latch that opens the film compartment) I think that means the camera will work. (For five bucks, it doesn’t really matter if it doesn’t, but I think it would be fun to take some pictures with it.)

Specs

This camera takes the following:

Film: Kodak 127
Flashbulbs: (I don’t have a flash gun for this camera.) (Yet.)
Battery: N/A

Links

The Brownie Camera Page – the Land List of Kodak Brownies.

Frugal Photographer – sells modern 127 film: color, B&W, and slides.

Rod Walent Brownie gallery – what a Brownie Reflex can do… in the hands of a *real* photographer, that is.

127 Film – all about this crazy “old” film.

DIY Film Slitter – Turn a roll of 120 into a roll suitable for use in a 127 camera.