Ansco Vest Pocket N° 1

Photos by DC text by Sylvain Halgand. From the collection of DC. Last update 2023-10-29 par Sylvain Halgand.

Manufactured or assembled in USA from (Circa) 1919 to (Circa) 1921.
Index of rarity in France: Infrequent (among non-specialized garage sales)
Inventory number: 3264

See the complete technical specifications

Chronology of cameras Ansco

The Ansco Vest Pocket (VP) is a series of folding cameras, where the flat front part is connected to the camera body by four tensioned arms. Even when the camera is in motion, this front part remains parallel to the film plane. The picture can only be taken when the arms are fully extended and locked. Once folded, the front part protects the bellows. Sometimes, the lens is protected by a cap attached to the front part with a hinge (Model No. 2), giving Ansco Vest Pocket cameras a distinctive silhouette. In this case, the cap is metallic, like the rest of the camera. Occasionally, there is an exposure table on its inner surface.
Another recurring feature of Ansco Vest Pocket cameras is their curved stand. They typically have two viewfinders to enable both vertical and horizontal shooting. The covering can be made of leather or imitation leather.

There are numerous lens combinations available, especially since models sold in France sometimes featured a locally-mounted lens. The shutter is a Wollensak. The early Bionic shutter was gradually replaced by an Actus shutter.

Ansco Number 0 is a 4.5 x 6 cm camera with fixed focus. Number 0 bis has the same format but with adjustable focus. Number 1 is a 6 x 9 cm camera using 120 film, and it has fixed focus. Number 2 is a 6 x 9 cm camera using 120 film, and it features a micrometric focusing adjustment. An Omnium Photo catalog from 1923 mentions a Vest Pocket Junior No. 1, but it's actually referring to the Vest Pocket No. 1.

Combinations available in France, based on the catalogs (non-exhaustive):

	N° 0	N° 0 ^bis	N° 1	N° 2

Rectiligne	1919-24		1919-21	1920-21
Achromatique	1919-22		1919-21	1920-21
Ansco Anastigmat 7.5		1921
Modico 7.5				1917-19
Photo-Plait 6.8	1920		1919	1917-19
Berthiot Olor 6.8	1919-24	1922-23	1923	1917-23
Ansco Anastigmat 6.3	1919			1920-22
Photo-Plait 6.3	1919-24		1919-21	1921-28
Roussel Stylor 6.3	1919-24	1922-23	1919-23	1920-27
Novac 6.3		1923	1921-23	1921-23
Dallmeyer Perfac 6.3				1915
Duplouich Verax 6.3	1921
Krauss Tessar 6.3				1921-23
Hermagis 6.3				1924
Splendor 6.2	1922-24			1922-27
Berthiot Olor 6				1920-28
Krauss Tessar 5	1921-24
Boyer Saphir 5		1922		1922

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The Ansco Vest Pocket No. 1 is a klapp camera with a 6 x 9 cm format. The film it uses is compatible with Kodak's 120 film. The catalogs mention that it is covered in imitation seal skin.

Interesting links or bibliography :

L'Illustration de 1918
09 Mars 1918, toutes les rares publicités, vêtements, médicaments et ...photo se référaient à nos valeureux soldats.

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