Antique Ansco Memo Camera in Excellent Condition. New York, 1927

This original and attractive antique camera is an Ansco Memo made in New York in 1927. The camera is in good condition and working order, and preserves all its component parts fully operative. The leather-covered wooden housing boasts a magnificent look, with scarcely any signs of the trace of time and use. The camera keeps the original lens and the plates and decals with the brand name. It is an ancient and very original piece, quite decorative and still in working order. The lens bears the market and model name, ANSCO MEMO, printed in clearly visible golden lettering. The Ansco Memo is a 35mm camera introduced by Ansco in 1926. The first versions had varnished wooden housings but later they were covered by black leather, just like the one that we can see in the images. Ansco was a photo company founded in 1902 after the merger of de E. & H. T. Anthony Co. and Scovill & Adams; Ansco is an abbreviation of Anthony and Scovill. After many vicissitudes, including mergers with other companies and problems during World War II, the firm became very successful. In the 1990s it was acquired by Kodak. This fine photo camera mounts a Velostigmat - Wollensak f=6,3 lens signed by Ansco Binghamton (the city in the state of New York where the factory was located). Inside the rear cover we can see the camera serial number, 22884, and the inscription PATENT APPLIED FOR. The wooden case is painted black inside and remains in very good condition. At the front, beneath the lens there is a golden metal plate with the ANSCO name clearly engraved. This lovely and sober Ansco Memo camera is a relevant piece in turn-of-the-century American photography, worthy to be part of the best museum. Measurements: Width: 4.1 in / 5 cm. Height: 1.9 in / 10 cm. Depth: 1.7 in / 7 cm.