Anyone Know About Vintage Cameras? Or What This Material May Be?

[StormMaeker]

My grandparents’ house is in the process of being cleared out and I had been given this camera that was found. It’s a Kodak Brownie 127 (third series) from 1965-1967 and I hope to be able to shoot on it. I’ve managed to do plenty of research and find information on it but there’s one thing I can’t find and that’s what this is above the red window.

The red window helps prevent overexposure on the film. I can only find one picture of this thing and that’s from an eBay seller who also has this crumbling thing on it and they do not mention what it is.
My theory was is it crumbling Velcro but I don’t know why it would be if it is going to rub against film?

I’m hoping I can find out what this thing is so I could replace it if it is necessary

By the way, this is the camera:

I’m not sure if anyone here has a clue but I thought I’d try asking in case

 

[Skybreeze]

I talked to my Dad (used to be photographer) who also looked at your photos.

He says without having the camera physically to look at he think it’s either a piece of corroded copper or felt.

This camera pre-dates velcro and he says that having felt inside at this time wasn’t uncommon to help with exposure and flash.

 

[StormMaeker]

I talked to my Dad (used to be photographer) who also looked at your photos.

He says without having the camera physically to look at he think it’s either a piece of corroded copper or felt.

This camera pre-dates velcro and he says that having felt inside at this time wasn’t uncommon to help with exposure and flash.

Thank you!
I was thinking it can’t be Velcro and I could imagine a soft piece of velvet being inside but I just wasn’t sure if it would have been

The first and second model that I keep coming across either have been cleaned out when I see inside or they started putting the material inside with the third model but I am clueless with this.

That’s pretty interesting how it predates Velcro!

Hmm… I wonder if I should replace the felt if it really is that… I just knew that being there would have been something to do with the exposure

 

[ActionHank]

I have a bunch of old cameras and besides felt the only thing I can think it could be is a badly degraded bit of foam.

 

[StormMaeker]

I have a bunch of old cameras and besides felt the only thing I can think it could be is a badly degraded bit of foam.

With Skybreeze’s help I have managed to take a look into felt in cameras and so far foam and felt it is seeming to be the case. Thank you for your input too!

The degrading is pretty bad. It just crumbles at the slightest touch. The rest of the camera is pretty good though it’s just that thing. It feels it makes even more sense to be foam actually

 

[ActionHank]

The degrading is pretty bad. It just crumbles at the slightest touch.

From the sound of that it is has to be foam.