Historical information

Kodak was founded by George Eastman and Henry A. Strong on September 4, 1888 in New York USA. During most of the 20th century, Kodak held a dominant position in photographic film. Kodak began to struggle financially in the late 1990s, as a result of the decline in sales of photographic film and its slowness in transitioning to digital photography, despite developing the first self-contained digital camera. The first model of the Kodak camera appeared in 1888. It took round pictures 6.4 cm (2.5 in) in diameter, was of the fixed focus type, and carried a roll of film enough for 100 exposures. Its invention practically marked the advent of amateur photography, as before that time both apparatus and processes were too burdensome to classify photography as recreation. The first films had to be loaded into the camera and unloaded in the dark room, but the film cartridge system with its protecting strip of opaque paper made it possible to load and unload the camera in ordinary light. The Brownie camera was introduced in 1900, creating a new mass market for photography.

Significance

This Kodak Brownie Box Camera is typical of the cameras used by amateur photographers c 1940

Physical description

A metal Kodak Brownie Box camera with a leather case, and an empty folder for negatives and prints

Inscriptions & markings

Front ; KODAK / 'KODET' LENS / Brownie Flash 11 / CAMERA / MADE IN ENGLAND BY KODAK LTD LONDON

Folder The Pleasures of PHOTOGRAPHY / Make Photography Your Hobby