Ansco Box Camera
ANSCO
| Name: | Ansco Box Camera |
| Manufacturer: | ANSCO |
| Country of Origin: | USA |
| Construction: | |
| Production Period: | Not known |
| Variant: | No 2 Ansco Box Camera |
| Plate / Film Size: | 2¼ x 3¼ (120) rollfilm |
| Lens: | Not known |
| Shutter: | Not known |
| Dimensions (h x l x w): | |
| Date of this Example: | c1935? |
| Serial Number: | None |
| Availability: |
|
| Inventory Number: | 94 |
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Description
The ANSCO No 2 is a simple box camera, equivalent to the Kodak Brownie No 2 box camera. The estimated date of 1935 is based on code on box label "JN-35".
The camera was purchased with its original buff coloured sales carton, complete with its yellow/red label in very good condition. It also came with remnants of its instruction booklet.
The leatherette covering is in good condition as is much of the bright metalwork. However the shutter lever, aperture slide and some other fittings show light rusting. The camera retains the ANSCO golden badge on the front face. The handle is also intact.
There is an ANSCO Speedex film label inside the back (a transfer, which is now quite brittle).
~ # ~ # ~
| Variant: | No 2A Ansco Box Camera / Buster Brown Special |
| Plate / Film Size: | 116 rollfilm |
| Lens: | Not known |
| Shutter: | Not known |
| Dimensions (h x l x w): | |
| Date of this Example: | c1920 |
| Serial Number: | None |
| Availability: |
|
| Inventory Number: | 176 |
Photos copyright © 2014 David Purcell. Do not use without permission. | ||||||||
Description
Like the smaller No 2, the ANSCO No 2A is a simple box camera, but in an attractive red/maroon finish with brass trim. It is equivalent to the Kodak Brownie No 2A.
This camera also came with remnants of its original instruction booklet. This has a code on the bask cover suggesting it may have been produced in 1920 (see scan below).
The leatherette covering is in very good condition as is the brass coloured metalwork. This example also shows the ANSCO gold coloured badge on the front of the camera. The handle is still intact and embossed with the maker's name.
As with the previous example, there is an ANSCO Speedex film label inside the back of the camera (transfer).
Notes
The image below shows the front and rear covers of the box camera instruction booklet. This particular example came with the No 2A size (#176).
The booklet simply identifies the camera as the No 2 or 2A box camera. However the ANSCO box cameras were also referred to by the Buster Brown name, used by ANSCO for a series of box and folding cameras over several decades. The code on the rear cover of the booklet suggests it might have been produced in 1920. In this period, the camera in its red finish was shown in advertisements aimed at children, where it was referred to as "My Little Red Chum". The same adverts also identify the camera as the Buster Brown Special.