Ansco Memo

[John Kratz]

Hi Diser,
The prices for the Ansco Memo seem out of whack. Firstly, the price for the most common, leather-covered Memo is listed here as $220-240 for an example in very good condition. I have never seen one sell for anywhere near that price. In fact, I got mine for $45.
Secondly, the olive drab painted Boy Scout Memo is listed as $100-120 for an example in very good condition. This price is too low, and it certainly doesn't make sense that the Boy Scout Memo would be worth half as much as the "normal" leather-covered Memo, which is far more common.
Lastly, the most rare version of the Memo, the non-covered, varnished wood version with brass fittings (mentioned along with the leather-covered Memo) has a price of ~$400. That price seems reasonable, but not if a common leather-covered Memo is $420-440 for a mint example (no way).

Thanks for your attention,
John

[diser]

John, thanks for pointing this out. The price for the leather-covered Memo got skewed by the "varnished wood" prices that were mixed together. Let me look at this up close. Thanks again!

[diser]

John, I created a new camera listing for the wooden body:
http://collectiblend.com/Cameras/Ansco/Memo-(wood-body).html

As far as the regular leather-covered body
http://collectiblend.com/Cameras/Ansco/Memo.html
the current completed eBay sales I see for $80-100 (plus shipping!), were for cameras in "C" condition, look at the photos. "B" condition (a camera with signs of light use) would easily be $180-200 (that's the new calculated price after I removed the wood body camera). Scroll down to the bottom of the camera page, you'll see the actual prices people have paid in the auctions. For example, LP Foto auction, 2007-09-16, B+ condition, $353 (1800 Swedish Kronas plus auction fees and 7% inflation rate since the auction date).
You've got lucky if you paid only $45 for a camera in a "very good" condition

P.S. McKeown's lists this camera for $80-120 in a "C" condition ("signs of normal use or age"), which corresponds to the completed e-bay sales.

[diser]

Boy Scout camera price from PW seems too low, yes. I am looking for the recent sales.

[John Kratz]

Eugene,

Another matter regarding the Memo:
The photo displayed on the Memo (wood body) page is not an accurate representation of this variant. What you have there looks more like the Boy Scout version. May I suggest that you use the image I uploaded to flickr yesterday:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/kratz/4619267776/

Best regards,
John

[diser]

Yes, this was puzzling me too. Seems like the "Boy Scout" names was erased from the plate and everything else stayed the same. I'll change the photo, thanks!