The body of the basic original Kodak Brownie camera was made from cardboard. Its simple box construction helped Kodak offer photography at a price ordinary families could afford.
Eastman Kodak introduced the first Brownie in February 1900. It was a basic box camera with a simple meniscus lens and roll film, designed to be easy enough for beginners and children to use. The original camera cost one US dollar, while film processing remained part of Kodak’s broader business model.
The cardboard body was typically covered in leatherette, giving the inexpensive camera a more finished and durable exterior. Later Brownie models were made from different materials, which can cause confusion: the Brownie No. 2, for example, was available in cardboard and aluminum versions, while some later models used Bakelite.
The Brownie helped popularise the snapshot by simplifying camera operation and lowering the entry cost. More than 150,000 were shipped during its first year, and the Brownie name continued across a long series of Kodak cameras produced into the 20th century.