The Ansco Cadet camera was manufactured by Ansco USA Division in circa 1959. Designed similar to the Ansco Cadet Flash camera, but with built-in flash contacts for use with the Anscoflash V attachment that used Class M flashbulbs. The Ansco Cadet provides the simple focus free features of a snapshot camera. It was made out of plastic with a metal faceplate, back plate, plus internal flash sync components. Features included a large optical viewfinder, double exposure prevention incorporated in the film advance mechanism, red frame count view window in the back cover, wind film advance wheel on the bottom of the camera, drop out film compartment for film changing ease, cloth carry strap, and easy color or black and white exposure setting. It was fitted with a fixed focus meniscus lens and Film advanced loaded shutter with 1/50 of a second speed. The camera takes twelve exposures on standard no. 127 film. The Cadet, Cadet Flash, and Cadet Reflex use the same bottom half and have the exact same drop-out film compartment. All three cameras have interchangeable drop-out film compartments with the exact same dimensions. When you look at the Cadet Flash’s left side you can see the indents for the flash attachment that the Cadet and Cadet Reflex uses only the Cadet Flash has no contacts. A great way to save design time for Ansco and use a platform that works. The Cadet outfit came with 1 roll of Ansco All-weather 127 film, two AA batteries, flash unit, 4 flash bulbs, and user’s manual (labeled “Your Ansco Cadet Camera”). The outfit sold for $14.00.
The design of this Ansco Cadet series was in competition with the contemporary, very much alike Kodak Brownie Star series - particularly the Starflex - with the winder in the base with a central foot, the strap loops, the three-point flash contacts and the general layout. But the design of the Ansco Cadet, Cadet Flash, and Cadet Reflex is foggy due to the existence of the Whitehouse Beacon Reflex, Beacon Flash Color, plus Beacon One Twenty-Seven having an identical lower half, film compartment, and locking mechanisms for the film compartment. It is unclear if Whitehouse commissioned Ansco to make the Whitehouse designed cameras for them or this is an Ansco design sold or used by Whitehouse or even produced by Ansco for Whitehouse seeing how it is such a departure from all other Beacon cameras. The Kodak similar cameras were probably a copy, given Kodak’s track record, with subtle measurement differences like the distance plus size of the flash contacts, the narrowing of the base footprint, and location of the compartment locking device. Kodak always looked for a way to compete.