Ansco Speedex

Agfa Ansco Speedex B2 image by image by chris00nj (Image rights)

Speedex was the name used by Ansco in Binghamton, NY, for a series of 6x6 format folding cameras which are very similar to the AGFA Isolette family. The first Speedex models appeared in 1940, under the name Agfa Ansco, the brand in use in that period. The original models were produced in the US, however.

As with other Agfa Ansco products, the film size may be designated B2 (the Agfa designation); but this is equivalent to 120 film.

The Speedex B2 has 85mm f/4.5 Agfa Anastigmat lens. The shutter has speeds from 1/2 to 1/250 shutter speeds plus B and T settings. There is no interlock which prevents double exposures. The bellows were not made of leather, so often pinholes have developed in them.

The Speedex B2 Junior was a much simpler camera. It also took 120 film, but the lens only had setting from f/11 to f/22 and the shutter only had two speeds: an "Instant" (presumably around 1/60) and a Time setting.

The 1950 Standard Speedex (or Speedex 6.3) had styling similar to the Ansco Titan but lacked that model's adjustable shutter speeds.

A less common model with characteristics similar to the Speedex was the Ansco B2 Commander.

After 1953

Speedex models introduced after about 1953 were manufactured by Agfa, equivalent to their Isolette series.

Ansco Speedex 4.5, similar to Isolette V, with Vario shutter, w/o body-mounted shutter release image by D-Mark (Image rights)	Speedex 4.5 Special with Prontor shutter image by Dirk HR Spennemann (Image rights)	same model Ansco Speedex 4.5 Special w/ Compur-Rapid. Cams similar to Isolette II. image by Hen's March (Image rights)
Speedex version with with uncoupled rangefinder, similar to the Isolette III image by Mario Groleau (Image rights)	Speedex Special R with Synchro-Compur (and replacement bellows, Solinar lens) image by Scott -- (Image rights)

External Links

• Ansco Speedex Manual at Butkus.org