The Ansco Cadet Flash camera was manufactured by Ansco USA Division in circa 1960. Designed similar to the original Cadet camera, but with a built-in flash with reflector for use of standard AG-1 or AG-1b flashbulbs, and had a flashbulb ejector button in the back of the flash unit. The Ansco Cadet Flash 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 components. Features included a large optical viewfinder, built-in synchronized flash with reflector, 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, permanently attached cloth carry strap, and easy color or black and white exposure setting. It was fitted with a fixed focus meniscus lens and film advance loaded shutter with 1/50 of a second speed. The camera takes twelve exposures on standard no. 127 film. The Cadet, Cadet Reflex, and Cadet Flash use the same bottom half and have the exact same drop-out film compartment that are interchangeable. When you look at the Cadet Flash’s left side you can see the indents for the flash attachment that the Cadet uses only the Cadet Flash has no contacts. A great way to save design time for Ansco and use a platform that works. The Ansco Cadet Reflex top half has a waist high viewfinder instead of eye level and the Anscoflash V unit flash contacts on the side.
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.