Kodak Six-20 Flash Brownie (1940–1946)

The Six-20 Flash Brownie holds a modest but real place in Kodak history: it was the company's first synchronized flash camera. Introduced in December 1940 at $4.25, it was essentially a flash-synchronized version of the Kodak Six-20 Brownie Special, sharing that model's sheet-metal body and 620 film format. When it was renamed the "Brownie Flash Six-20" in 1946, the price had risen to $5.90.

It's a common camera today, easily recognized by its unusual trapezoidal shape. The sheet-metal body could mount a large, unwieldy bulb flashgun, and General Electric supplied the bulbs. It shot 6×9 cm exposures on 620 roll film.

One note on dates: some sources — including a period eBay listing for a flash unit only — cite production as 1938–1941, which conflicts with the more widely documented December 1940 introduction and 1946 rename. The 1940–1946 range appears more consistent across the record.

Film: 620 roll film, 6×9 cm exposures
Body: sheet metal, trapezoidal shape
Flash: synchronized bulb flashgun (GE bulbs); Kodak's first synchronized flash camera
Introduced: December 1940 at $4.25
Renamed "Brownie Flash Six-20" in 1946 at $5.90

Beyond these basics, the documentation is thin. No lens or shutter specifications have been confirmed for this model — what appears online under its name sometimes belongs to other cameras. No weight, dimensions, or viewfinder details are recorded, and no period reviews have surfaced. What's clear is that this was an affordable, entry-level box camera that brought flash photography to the mass market for the first time.