This box camera had a long run and was introduced in 1901 then discontinued in 1935 with the Model D being released in 1914. The No 2 also was manufactured in the UK from 1928 till the end date of production. The number of cameras sold and produced is not known but over 2,500,000 before 1921. The camera uses 120 roll film to give you a 2 ¼” by 3 ¼” picture. The No.2 Brownie is significant in that it was the first camera to use 120 roll film. It started production being made of leatherette covered card and, from 1924, changed to a metal box. A very simple camera with a very dependable rotary shutter. It has two sliding mechanisms on the top, one for a bulb, or time setting, and the other for a choice of 3 apertures (about f8, f11, and f16) that sit in front of the Meniscus lens. It also has two small reflecting finders for vertical (portrait) or horizontal (Landscape) shots. The original price was $2.00 with the aluminum model F selling for $2.75 and the color models for $2.50.
Variations: (1901-early 1902) detachable winding keys similar to The Brownie camera (Early 1902) fixed pull-out winding key (Feb 1904) Model B; fine grain leatherette covering replaced by coarser grain; metal eyelets fitted to lens and finder windows (Apr 1907) Model C; spool centers fitted (Dec 1914 Model D) during the run of this model the sliding latch for hinged back was replaced by a spring catch; mask in back omitted (June 1917) Film tension springs bearing on spools ends instead of center (Dec 1917) metal name plate on back (Mar 1919) Model E; metal film carrier instead of wood, card outer casting (Mar 1920) Trigger guard fitted (Feb 1924) Model F; aluminum case replaced card; tripod sockets added; no trigger guard; finer grain leatherette covering (Apr 1929-1933) US models in five color finishes - Red, grey, green, blue, brown - as well as black (1929-1933) UK models in six color finishes - Red, grey, green, blue, brown, claret - as well as black (Nov 1930) UK model in special Modernist finish, black with slight relief, wax-like feel; made only in limited numbers for the Christmas season. (From 1931) knob replaced winding key; 1931 models had rectangular line decoration of earlier models; thereafter plain finish (1934-1935) UK models in two color finishes - grey or black. Silver model produced for Silver Jubilee of King George V in 1935. (Most of the information gleaned from “The Brownie Camera Page”)