Brownie Holiday Flash Camera – Instruction Manual and Film Update

About this edition

This text edition transcribes all nine source images of Meet Your Brownie Holiday Flash Camera, including the original booklet and a separate later film-update and lens-care insert. The insert is presented separately below; it replaces the original page 9 film recommendations. Illustrations and decorative photographs are omitted; readable labels and all operating text are retained. Original American spelling and historical product claims are preserved. The flash-distance table referred to by the booklet is on the flashholder battery cover and is not reproduced in this source.

Credit: Eastman Kodak Company, Rochester 4, N. Y. Source copy: The Brownie Camera Page.

Meet Your Brownie Holiday Flash Camera

The Brownie Holiday Flash Camera is an all-round picture taker.

Outdoors … on a sunny day – aim and shoot.

Indoors … or in poor light – attach the flasholder, pop in a lamp, aim, and shoot.

For better pictures, spend a few minutes reading these instructions. Practice with an empty camera to get the feel of making pictures without jiggling the camera.

T. M. REG. U. S. PAT. OFF.

Five “do’s” for picture-taking fun

The best snapshots are made with the sun behind you.
Keep at least 5 feet from your subject.
Carefully frame the picture in the finder.
Keep the picture simple – avoid confusing backgrounds.
Hold the camera steady and gently squeeze the shutter release.

Load … but never in bright, direct light

Push the SLIDE LOCKS on both sides of the camera all the way down. Remove the camera back.
The empty spool should be in the WIND-KNOB side of the camera. If it isn’t, place end of empty spool in hook of spring; then push down spool, swing it in, and turn knob until spool is engaged.
Break film seal. Place end of spool in hook of spring under shutter release. Push down spool, swing it in until the end snaps into the hole.
Draw paper, colored side up, over opening; thread it through slit in spool as far as it will go. Wind two full turns to make sure paper is tight and straight.
Replace the back. Lock it by pulling up the strap on both sides of the camera, until the slide locks are all the way up.
Look in red window on camera back. Wind until you see warning arrows; then slowly wind until a pair of 1’s is centered. Now you’re ready for snapshots.

Illustration labels: Slide Locks; Wind Knob.

Unload … but never in bright, direct light

After the 8th snapshot, wind until the end of the paper has passed the red window and is all wound on the spool.
Push the locks down and remove the back. Remove film by pressing left end of the spool to the left.
Fold under the end of the paper; then seal the roll.
While the camera is open, move the empty spool and reload with a new roll of film.

IMPORTANT: After removing the film, do not twist it tightly – this may scratch the surface. Have your film developed as soon as possible.

Film – original booklet recommendations

Just ask the man for Kodak 127 Film. Here are the different types:

Black and white

Kodak Verichrome Film: This is the favorite film for outdoor pictures and flash shots.

Kodak Plus-X Film: A “fine-grain” film for extra-good enlargements.

Kodak Super-XX Film: Use this extra-speed film whenever the light is poor.

You’ll save money and always have film on hand if you buy Verichrome in the Kodak Duo-Pak (2 rolls in one package).

Color

Kodacolor Film: This is the full-color snapshot film. Daylight Type for sunny-day use – Type A for flash shots indoors. Your photo dealer has full details – ask him.

All of these films give 8 pictures per roll. Standard enlarged prints are 3½ x 5 inches. The negative size is 1⅝ x 2½ inches.

Outdoors and Indoors – Outdoor snapshots

Have the sun behind you.
Hold the camera steady with your thumb or finger bracing the bottom of the camera – see pictures. For vertical pictures, hold the camera with the wind-knob side up. Keep fingers away from the lens.
Frame the picture carefully with your eye close to the finder.
Take the picture by slowly squeezing the shutter release until it clicks.
Wind the film to the next number. Don’t wait, or you may forget and take a picture on the same number – spoiling both pictures.

If you’re using Kodacolor Film Daylight Type, the subject must be in bright, direct sunlight.

Illustration labels: Vertical; Horizontal.

Indoor snapshots

Attach the Kodalite Midget Flasholder. See page 12.
Rub the bottom contact of the M-2 lamp on a rough surface; then push the lamp into the socket until it snaps in place.
Be sure you’re at the right distance from the subject. See table on the battery cover.
Frame the picture carefully with your eye close to the finder. Take the snapshot. (The lamp will flash when the shutter release is squeezed.)
Push the button on the flasholder handle to eject the used lamp.
Advance the film to the next number.

With Kodacolor Film Type A, use a No. 6A Kodak Close-Up Attachment. Subject must be 3 to 4 feet from the camera.

Kodalite Midget Flasholder

How to install the batteries

Remove cover plate by loosening coin-slotted screw.
Insert two 1½-volt penlite batteries, base down. Be sure battery pull-tab is out.
Replace cover plate and tighten screw.
Attach flasholder by placing the posts into the holes in the side of the camera; then tighten the knob on the side of the flasholder.

NOTE: Batteries should test 3½ amperes. Since lamps may shatter when flashed, use of a Kodak Flashguard over the reflector is recommended. Never flash lamps in an explosive atmosphere.

Flash lamps

The Midget Flasholder was designed to use the midget-type M-2 lamp. To use the bayonet-base No. 5 or 25 lamp, remove the socket adapter. To remove adapter, push it in with the thumb and turn it counterclockwise; then press lamp-release button.

When using bayonet-base lamps, store the ADAPTER inside the case, under the batteries.

NOTE: Do not place lamp in the flasholder socket until the flasholder has been attached to the camera.

Illustration labels: Adapter; Insert batteries like this.

Picture Tips

Make them interesting

Now that you’re familiar with your camera, let’s give a little thought to the picture. Every snapshot you take should tell a story. When taking pictures of people, have them doing something, not looking at the camera.

Capturing clouds

The No. 6A Kodak Cloud Filter really captures the fluffy clouds by making the blue sky appear darker. The filter slips easily over the camera lens mount. Use with any black-and-white films – never Kodacolor.

How to get extra close

Close-ups like this are a snap with the Brownie Holiday Flash Camera. All you have to do is slip a No. 6A Close-Up Attachment over the camera lens. You can get as close as 3 feet.

Note: For flash pictures with Kodacolor Film Type A and the M-2 lamp in the Midget Flasholder, use the No. 6A Attachment. Have your subject 3 to 4 feet from the camera.

Let’s keep it simple

Don’t clutter up your snapshots with unnecessary objects. Keep your pictures simple. Watch out for a poor background, like a telephone pole “growing” out of your subject’s head. Never have your finger or neck strap in front of the lens.

Camera Features

Film: Kodak 127 Roll Film; negative size – 1⅝ x 2½ inches; 8 exposures per roll; standard enlarged prints – 3½ x 5 inches.
Lens: Dakon; factory focused from 5 feet and beyond.
Shutter: Snapshot; synchronized for flash.
Finder: Enclosed; optical, eye-level type.
Flasholder: Kodalite Midget; uses two 1½-volt penlite batteries and M-2 lamps; socket adapter can be removed for use with No. 5 or 25 lamps.
Photo Aids: No. 6A Kodak Close-Up Attachment. No. 6A Kodak Cloud Filter.

Eastman Kodak Company, Rochester 4, N. Y.
5-55-JPS-AXXX
Printed in the United States of America.

Separate later insert – Brownie Holiday Flash Camera

The films listed on page 9 of this manual have been replaced by the Kodak films listed below:

Kodak Verichrome Pan Film – Here’s a film you can use on sunny or cloudy days and get excellent prints. It’s also good with flash.

Kodak Tri-X Film – This film is so fast that it can’t be used on sunny days. We recommend it for distant flash shots.

Kodacolor Film – Still the same name – but you no longer need a special film for flash shots. Now you can use a single film for snaps in bright sunlight and for flash shots indoors. Get the full story from your dealer.

T.M. Reg. U.S. Pat. Off. (OVER)

For Sparkling Pictures, Keep the Camera Lens Clean

When the lens needs cleaning, first brush or blow away any grit or dust. Wipe the surface gently with Kodak Lens Cleaning Paper or a soft, lintless cloth. If moisture is needed, use Kodak Lens Cleaner or breathe on the lens. Do not use silicone-treated tissues.

EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY – ROCHESTER 4, NEW YORK
8-56-5H-CXX
Printed in the United States of America.