Ansco Cadet II

Ansco Cadet II
Ansco Cadet II Image by Steve Harwood (Image rights) Manufacturer: Ansco Date of Production: mid-1960's Film type: 127 Lens: Plastic Anscar lens, fixed focus Exposure Metering: - Battery: (2) AA's (for flash) Weight: Dimensions: -

The Ansco Cadet II was introduced in the mid-1960's by the Ansco camera company of Binghampton, New York. It is a plastic camera which uses 127 roll film. It updated the styling of the original Cadet of 1959.

Ansco started making cameras in 1870 after having been a photographic supplier since the 1840's. The company became GAF (General Aniline & Film) in 1967, then sold out to Haking of Hong Kong in 1978. Ansco-branded cameras were made until the 1990's.

Construction

The body of the Cadet II is made of plastic with an aluminium faceplate. It has two mounting holes for attaching a strap. On the front of the camera, there is a dial to select color or black and white film. This controls the size of the aperture. (The larger aperture opening is the one for color film.) The 127 film produced 12 square images and was wound by a large, round wheel on the bottom of the camera. The camera can be used with or without the matching flash attachment, which mounts on top and requires 2 AA batteries.

Complete original kit & case image by Rick Soloway (Image rights)

Front detail image by Kenneth Dwain Harrelson (Image rights)

Flash instructions image by Kenneth Dwain Harrelson (Image rights)

Bottom detail image by Kenneth Dwain Harrelson (Image rights)

Links

• Ansco Cadet II video presentation by YouTuber Vintage Camera Guy
• Wikipedia Ansco entry
• Ansco camera manuals at www.orphancameras.com
• Ansco cameras at Sylvain Halgand's www.collection-appareils.fr (in French)