Ansco Memo c.1927 — Bare Wood Body — Wollensak Cine Velostigmat f/6.3 — Half-Frame 35mm
CHF 750.00
Exceptionally rare early version of the Ansco Memo (c.1926–27), one of the very first American 35mm cameras to be produced in quantity. This example features the highly sought-after bare varnished wooden body — the earliest production variant, made before Ansco began covering the housings in leather.
The condition of the wood is nothing short of astonishing — so fresh and pristine that upon first inspection, this camera was mistaken for a modern reproduction. The varnish is beautifully preserved with no significant wear, cracks, or warping. For a camera approaching 100 years of age, this level of preservation is virtually unheard of.
Fitted with its original Wollensak Cine Velostigmat f/6.3 lens in Ilex shutter (speeds 25, 50, 100, B, T). The Ansco Memo uses a unique cine-style claw film advance mechanism — no sprockets — and produces 50 half-frame exposures (18×23mm) on 35mm film in proprietary Ansco/Agfa cassettes. Film travels vertically from the upper to the lower cassette, with no rewinding required.
Designed by Carl Bornmann (US Design Patent D74,211), its distinctive vertical box shape with tubular Galilean viewfinder and folding wire handle make it one of the most iconic cameras of the pre-war era.
A true collector's piece — bare wood Memos rarely appear on the market, and examples in this extraordinary condition are once-in-a-lifetime finds.
The condition of the wood is nothing short of astonishing — so fresh and pristine that upon first inspection, this camera was mistaken for a modern reproduction. The varnish is beautifully preserved with no significant wear, cracks, or warping. For a camera approaching 100 years of age, this level of preservation is virtually unheard of.
Fitted with its original Wollensak Cine Velostigmat f/6.3 lens in Ilex shutter (speeds 25, 50, 100, B, T). The Ansco Memo uses a unique cine-style claw film advance mechanism — no sprockets — and produces 50 half-frame exposures (18×23mm) on 35mm film in proprietary Ansco/Agfa cassettes. Film travels vertically from the upper to the lower cassette, with no rewinding required.
Designed by Carl Bornmann (US Design Patent D74,211), its distinctive vertical box shape with tubular Galilean viewfinder and folding wire handle make it one of the most iconic cameras of the pre-war era.
A true collector's piece — bare wood Memos rarely appear on the market, and examples in this extraordinary condition are once-in-a-lifetime finds.