Ansco Memo

1926

Ansco Photo Products Inc.

Binghampton

USA

Lens:

f6.3, Ilex-Ansco Cinemat, iris diaphragm to f16.

Shutter:

Ilex, between the lens, three-blade leaf type, speeds 1/25 - 1/100, B,T.

Construction:

Polished wood body with brass fittings.

Format:

50, 18 x 23 mm exposures on 35 mm cine film held in cassettes. The cassettes have no centre spool, a spring guides the film into a roll.

Focusing:

Fixed.

Attributes:

Direct-vision (lens/lens) view-finder.
Film advance is by claw movement which pulls the film down 4 sprocket holes. Not coupled to shutter.

Serial Number:

1342 .

With:

2 metal spools marked Ansco and roll of negatives showing scenes in Venice.

Ansco Memo

Model of 1927

Ansco Photo Products Inc.

Binghampton

USA

Lens:

f6.3, 40 mm Velostigmat, iris diaphragm to f16.

Shutter:

Between the lens, three-blade leaf type, speeds 1/25 - 1/100, B,T.

Construction:

Leather covered wood body.

Format:

50, 18 x 23 mm exposures on 35 mm cine film held in cassettes. The cassettes have no centre spool, a spring guides the film into a roll.

Focusing:

Fixed.

Attributes:

Direct-vision (lens/lens) view-finder.
Film advance is by claw movement which pulls the film down 4 sprocket holes. Not coupled to shutter.

Identification:

Late model fitted with a shutter release guard.

Serial Number:

23040 .

With:

2 spool holders.
Memoscope projector. Comprises: electric bulb, condenser of two plano-convex elements, hand-operated sprocket feed, lens of two widely separated plano-convex elements. In case.

An early 35 mm camera and one of the first to be sold at low cost. The Memo proved very successful judging by the numbers still extant. Production probably ceased around 1930.

The projector throws an image about 2 feet square from a distance of 6 feet.

Variations

Wood finish with brass fittings - earliest version.
Boy scout model - olive coloured wood finish with insignia.
Early leather covered model - without release guard and with wooden cassettes.
Late leather covered model - metal cassettes, with release guard.

Lenses available on leather models

f6.3 Anastigmat, fixed focus.
f6.3 Velostigmat, fixed or focusing.
f6.3 B&L Anastigmatic, focusing.
f3.5 Velostigmat, focusing.
f3.5 B&L Anastigmatic, focusing.

References & Notes:

BP 285494/1927. Lothrop, Century, p. 135.

Early Photography

Ansco Memo

1926

Ansco Photo Products Inc.

Binghampton

USA

Lens:

Shutter:

Construction:

Format:

Focusing:

Attributes:

Serial Number:

With:

Ansco Memo

Model of 1927

Ansco Photo Products Inc.

Binghampton

USA

Lens:

Shutter:

Construction:

Format:

Focusing:

Attributes:

Identification:

Serial Number:

With:

Variations

Lenses available on leather models

References & Notes: