It was the 50's, things were made of metal and this camera the Anscoflex was a perfect example of form and function in metal. Built in Bermingham, New York, USA by Ansco it sold in Sears Stores for $15.95 as an easy way to take better pictures
The body was designed by Raymond Loewy, a famous designer and logo artist from the early 30's he also
designed the iconic Coca-Cola bottle, the Zippo Lighter and the 1954 Greyhound Bus, check out the lens cover/viewfinder shade, it reminds me of the doors to the luggage storage area on the side of a bus.
designed the iconic Coca-Cola bottle, the Zippo Lighter and the 1954 Greyhound Bus, check out the lens cover/viewfinder shade, it reminds me of the doors to the luggage storage area on the side of a bus.
The Ansco Anscoflex made between 1953 and 1956 is an unusual enamelled-metal bodied camera,
with two lenses called a Twin Lens Reflex camera, it imitates the shape of a TLR, but with no conection
of the taking and viewing lens. The self erecting finder hood and lens shield sets this camera apart from
other cameras of the era.
with two lenses called a Twin Lens Reflex camera, it imitates the shape of a TLR, but with no conection
of the taking and viewing lens. The self erecting finder hood and lens shield sets this camera apart from
other cameras of the era.
It has an an oversized brilliant finder and a fixed focus lens for capturing the image. As usual images in these viewfinders appear backwards, to move object in viewfinder to the left you pan right. A little strange but you
get use to it. The aperture (f/11) and shutter speed, about 1/60sec are fixed. This camera focuses
from 6 feet to infinity.
get use to it. The aperture (f/11) and shutter speed, about 1/60sec are fixed. This camera focuses
from 6 feet to infinity.
The red button below the viewfinder releases the back door for loading the 620 roll film. Unavailable now, the 620 film can be replaced by spooling 120 film on to the 620 spools. The internet has many videos on the proper method of doing that. Here is one . . . http://www.brownie-camera.com/respool/respool.shtml
The film is wound by a large, ratcheted knob in the side of the camera, turn the knob 180 degrees to advance
to the next frame. It also has an interesting double exposure prevention system, after depressing the large
red shutter button it remains in the depressed position until the first rotation of the film advance at which time
the button pops back to it’s normal position.
to the next frame. It also has an interesting double exposure prevention system, after depressing the large
red shutter button it remains in the depressed position until the first rotation of the film advance at which time
the button pops back to it’s normal position.
On the other side a flash attachment can be mounted, it cost another $4.95 (as seen in the advertisement above). There are no other controls on this version of the Anscoflex, a newer version the Anscoflex II, a much more
expensive camera, has two extra controls for filters just below the sliding lens cover, one for close up,
focusing at 4 feet and a yellow filter for daylight exposures on Black and White film.
expensive camera, has two extra controls for filters just below the sliding lens cover, one for close up,
focusing at 4 feet and a yellow filter for daylight exposures on Black and White film.
There is just something about this "Industrial" design that makes it stand out from other cameras of that era. Hiring Raymond Loewy to design a camera insured that would look like nothing else on the market. It has a refined feel
to it, the soft corners, the ergonomic controls, it just feels at home in your hands. Unfortunately at the time of it's release 620 film was on it's way out and 35mm was replacing it.
to it, the soft corners, the ergonomic controls, it just feels at home in your hands. Unfortunately at the time of it's release 620 film was on it's way out and 35mm was replacing it.
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