Agfa Ansco Clipper Special (c.1939)

Name: Agfa Ansco Clipper
Brand: Agfa

Compact all-metal folding camera for 616 rollfilm, made in Binghamton, New York, with adjustable aperture and mechanical shutter.

Overview

The Agfa Ansco Clipper Special, also known as the Clipper Special 6.3, is a folding rollfilm camera manufactured by Agfa Ansco in the United States around 1939. Built in Binghamton, New York, it was the top model in the Agfa PD16 Clipper range, designed for size 616 rollfilm (designated PD 16 by Agfa). The camera features an all-metal body with a hard plastic/Bakelite top housing, a telescoping lens board, and a folding viewfinder. It was marketed as easy to use, with the user manual stating it was "scientifically designed" for fine results without special photographic knowledge, similar in simplicity to the Kodak Brownie line.

Specifications

Film Format	Size 616 rollfilm (PD 16)
Negative Size	2½ x 2 1/16 inches (vertical)
Exposures per Roll	15
Lens	Agfa anastigmat lens, f/6.3 maximum aperture, adjustable aperture
Shutter	Mechanical, self-cocking, 4 speeds plus T and B
Focusing	Lens focuses down to 4 feet
Body Construction	All-metal body, pull-out front section, hard plastic/Bakelite top housing
Features	Telescoping lens board, two exposure counter windows (A and B), folding viewfinder, no tripod socket

Design

The camera uses a metal body with a rectangular pull-out front section housing the lens and shutter. The telescoping lens board collapses by pressing flat springs on the side of the metal telescope to retract the lens. The shutter is fully mechanical and self-cocking, though there is no mechanical interlock between the shutter and film advance. The top housing is made of hard plastic or Bakelite, and the design includes two exposure counter windows on the back labeled A and B.

Context

Agfa acquired Ansco, an American photographic manufacturer, in 1928, and products were sold under the Agfa-Ansco brand. The Clipper Special was the flagship model in the PD16 Clipper range, with simpler models as its siblings. In 1941, American Agfa assets were seized during World War II and became General Aniline and Film Corp., with photographic products later reverting to the Ansco name.

Market

Originally sold for $5 in the mid-1930s into the 1940s, the Agfa Ansco Clipper Special typically sells today for $10–$20. It is noted to be in great overall condition when found, and its retro design makes it a display-friendly piece.