Topic: Six-twenty model c Brownie

[euge...]

Somebody in work has offered me a  Kodak six-20 model c Brownie.I  was wondering what was the story with 620 film ?I'm sure Ive seen it mentioned in other threads but I might be imagining that.

What is a reasonable price (uk) for it ?.It appears to be pristine and the shutter fires 

[Urban Hafner]

620 film is basically 120 film on a different spool. And AFAIK it isn't produced anymore. So you either have to respool it yourself or buy it from someone who does it for you (at a premium price, I guess).

As for the price of the camera: I don't know. But you could search for it on eBay and look at what people paid for it as you can search for auctions that have ended.

Urban

[astrobeck]

re-spooling 120 to a 620 spool is the way to go. 

I just received a six-20 model D a few weeks ago and it's a fun little box.
My first test shots are below, so I think you will find it has a certain "character".

My shutter fires quite leisurely, so I think using 100 speed is probably best for outdoor use.

The pix below were shot at 400 speed in a poorly lit washroom.




[Sorry, image deleted during forum software upgrade. Please re-upload if so inclined.]

[Francois]

Kodak Brownies were always produced in large numbers, especially the box types. They all have exceptional shutters which just keep on going unless something major happened to them.

As far as what a fair price for it goes, I know a museum who sells box brownies as souvenirs for 10$ each (though I don't know which models the sell).

Hope it helps...

[moominsean]

Yeah usually box cameras go for $10-$20 depending on model and condition. Millions of Brownies out there. If you have a couple 620 spools, super easy to respool 120 onto 620. Some people clip the 120 spools, but I've had issues with that. Respooling takes a couple minutes.

[sapata]

I trimm my films when using the Brownie Box and it works perfectly, now some cameras even doing this won't fit so you have to re spool.

[euge...]

Thanks for the replies.  Astrobeck your images have made me definitely want to get one .There is another one on offer with a hotshoe.

I rang around a few shops today to see if they had any spools ,to no avail.A few more tomorrow and then evil bay should do it.

Thanks!

[Blaxton]

Euge,

I have two Brownie Hawkeyes that were built for 620 film.  One won't handle 120 film no matter what, respooling included.  (I modified it for 35mm.)  The other works fine with 120 film, out of the box, as long as I use a 620 take-up reel.  I have a metal 620 take-up reel that I use with the camera and I have several plastic 620 take-up reels that I have never used.  If your search yields nothing, then send me an e-mail with your address and I will post a plastic 620 reel your way.

[astrobeck]

I also have a spare 620 spool I will send to you if you PM your addy.
You are stateside, right?
 

[Francois]

There is another one on offer with a hotshoe.

Considering the vintage of the Brownies, the flash holder is probably a cold-shoe that needs a cable for synching with the shutter (the hotshoe has a center contact while the cold shoe has none).

Also, odds are the shutter is synchronized for flashbulbs. These were slower to ignite than an electronic flash is to fire so the contacts are triggered in advance to give the bulb time to reach maximum power before the shutter is fully open. Unless it is written X-Sync on it, it just won't work using electronic flash unless you either perform extensive surgery on the camera to move the synchro switch or are an electronics wizard and program either a PIC controller or an Arduino circuit to give a delay before triggering the flash...

[euge...]

Astrobeck and Blaxton ,thanks for the offers,I live in/near london so I should be able to turn up something,(The

triumph of hope over experience?).

Francois for some of the images I had seen I was expecting a flash bulb solution.Thanks for the explanation.I have

to admit I just like the colour (kind of yellow) of the flash model,and based on Blaxtons experience I think that

having 2 might mean that at least one is useable.Currently I'm watching 9 on ebay so I can have an idea on the

current going rate.