Ansco Shur-Flash

Specification

Art Deco Credentials

Acceptable: Modest and restricted

• Produced after the main Art Deco period;
• Patterned stainless steel front plate;
• Chrome/nickel highlights;

Description

Although the Ansco Shur-Flash is a simple camera made from cardboard, wood and metal, it is particularly well made. It is capable of capturing eight 2 1/4 x 3 1/4 inch exposures on standard no. 120 roll film. This basic box construction hadn't changed much from when box cameras first appeared half a century earlier. The camera is made of a water resistant fiber body covered in black imitation leather, with a decorative stainless steel faceplate. The back is also made of metal. The shutter assembly is supported with a wooded block. There is a plastic handle on the top.

The camera was fitted with a fixed focus lens for taking photos from about 7 feet to infinity. There is only one aperture and one shutter speed available. The glass single meniscus lens is located at the front before the shutter and aperture stop. The shutter provides a snapshot speed of about 1/40 of a second. Film advance is by the use of a ruby window on the back door. It has a chrome/nickel winding key. The viewfinder is a reverse galilean type but is very small and difficult to use. There is no cable release socket and no tripod mount.

As the name implies, there are two terminals on the top of the camera for the connection of a flash unit. The flash unit recommended is the Anscoflash Type III. There is a fairly limited range over which the flash will give acceptable pictures.

For maintenance, the metal faceplate of the camera can be taken off by lifting tabs away from two small pegs which gives access to the shutter and the back of the lens.

How to Use

Find the User Manual for this camera here:- https://www.cameramanuals.org/agfa_ansco/ansco_shur-flash.pdf.

This camera takes 120 film which is easily available.