Ansco: Flash Clipper

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The Ansco Clipper and Flash Clipper were simple non-adjustable cameras made by Agfa Ansco, later Ansco, from the 1940s into 1954. (The series began as the Agfa Ansco PD16 Clipper, but Agfa branding was dropped during the WWII years.) The lens board pulled out of the camera body for taking pictures, and collapsed to make the camera more compact when not in use. The focus and aperture were fixed, while the shutter had I (Instant) and B (Bulb or timed) settings. The Flash Clipper was modified with an accessory shoe, and a proprietary two-pin flash sync connection beside the lens. The Flash Champion is a name variant of the Flash Clipper. An upmarket, higher-spec version of the same camera (featuring focus and exposure adjustments) was the Clipper Special. The camera was constructed of metal and covered with a water resistant plastic cover. It took sixteen 2 1/2 x 2 1/8 inch sized exposures on standard no. 616 roll film. The Ansco Flash Clipper featured a fixed focus 2 element f11 doublet lens, and a direct optical view finder. The camera measures about 5 x 3 3/4 x 2 1/4 inches when folded. The Ansco Flash Clipper camera with flash unit was originally priced at approximately $18.50. The camera only ranged from $12.50 to $14.50.