Folder Camera help needed

narsuitus · Apr 8, 2015

Over the Easter/Passover holiday, my 92-year old aunt gave me her camera. I am now trying to understand and operate it. Based on my research and examination, here is what I think I know:

Ansco Standard Speedex 90mm f/4.5 120 roll film medium format film camera (folder)

2 1/4 X 2 1/4 inch images

Production years 1946 - 1950

This camera built on 2/7/1948 or 7/2/1948 (based on what is printed on the inside of the camera back)

Manufactured in Binghamton, New York, USA

$36.50 price when new

$25 - $50 current price range for one in good to excellent condition

Shutter speeds 1/2 sec to 1/250 sec

1/2 & 1/5 second shutter speeds not working

B & T shutter speeds not working

f/4.5 uncoated lens

f/4.5 to f/22 f/stop range

No flash sync

Optical viewfinder

Zone focus

Confirmation, correction, or additional information would be greatly appreciated.

https://flic.kr/p/rH3XYR

pdeeh · Apr 8, 2015

What is it you need to know?

Rick A · Apr 8, 2015

The slow speeds are always the first to succumb to the dreaded hardening of the grease.

pbromaghin · Apr 8, 2015

Nice camera. It looks like it was hardly used. The bellows may have some leaks, but the rest of it looks very solid. As an heirloom, it should be worth a CLA, which might run $75-125 depending on how much it needs. For that cost you will have a camera that works as well as it did when new and will fold up to fit in your pocket. I have a CLA'd Zeiss that I carry around most of the time. It should be a good shooter, a rough equivalent to 80MP. The anastigmat lens will be very sharp around f/8-f/11 and maybe vignette a little when wide open. These cameras have their limits, but they work very well within them and the limits are fun to find.

vdonovan · Apr 8, 2015

Sometimes the focus ring is frozen on these, because of the lubricant originally used. Try turning that outermost ring around the lens, the one marked in feet. If it doesn't turn, you'll need a CLA (or fix it yourself, there are resources on how to do it). If it does turn, you're in luck!

shutterfinger · Apr 8, 2015

Instruction manual: http://www.cameramanuals.org/agfa_ansco/ansco_speedex_4_5.pdf
Yours appears to have a Compur shutter. Cameramanuals.org also shows a manual for a Special R and Special 4.5 both of which have Prontor shutters.
Compur and Prontor were both made by Zeiss.

bdial · Apr 9, 2015

It looks to be well above average in condition, with the possible exception of the bellows, which should be fairly easy to patch up if needed.
Well worth trying out/using

narsuitus · Apr 11, 2015

Thanks to all for your help. I incorporated the information you provided in the write-up associated with this photo I posted on Flickr:

[https://flic.kr/p/rJaDxx]

Greg Heath · Apr 15, 2015

Buy a new bellows for it. SandehaLynch.com

When the website opens up click on left bottom link. I have refurbished the Agfa variant of this. I love these cameras.
Greg

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Greg Heath · Apr 15, 2015

I have rebuilt 5 of the Agfa variants. You can do it yourself IF you have some experience already. Where are located ?

Greg

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Pioneer · Apr 15, 2015

Great cameras. Very easy to fix and are really good performers. I kind of look at them as the Chevrolet (or Ford) of cameras. Nothing too fancy but good, basic, photography that you can carry anywhere.

EDIT - I guess that would now be the Toyota of cameras.

narsuitus · Apr 18, 2015

Greg Heath said:
I have rebuilt 5 of the Agfa variants. You can do it yourself IF you have some experience already. Where are located ?

Greg

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Greg,

Thanks for the bellows replacement link.

I am located in Texas and Chicago.

narsuitus · Apr 18, 2015

Pioneer said:
Great cameras. Very easy to fix and are really good performers. I kind of look at them as the Chevrolet (or Ford) of cameras.

Love your automobile analogy because this camera gives me a nostalgic feeling. It takes me back to a simpler time when I had my first car, an easy to fix and great performing 1952 Ford.

leicarfcam · Apr 18, 2015

I saw a speedex at a local flea market today but passed it up. The bellows was full of holes and the seller wanted $250.00 for it.. Said it was one of a kind....

Greg Heath · Apr 19, 2015

That was a ripoff.

Greg Heath · Apr 19, 2015

narsuitus said:
Greg,

Thanks for the bellows replacement link.

I am located in Texas and Chicago.

No problem. The bellows are great. Very reasonable cost. Easy to install

Folder Camera help needed

narsuitus

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