Agfa Ansco Clipper Special (c.1939)

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 made by Agfa Ansco in the United States around 1939. It was built in Binghamton, New York, and was the top model in the Agfa PD16 Clipper range. It takes size 616 rollfilm, which Agfa designated PD 16. The body is all metal with a hard plastic/Bakelite top housing, a telescoping lens board, and a folding viewfinder. Agfa sold it as easy to use. The user manual says it was "scientifically designed" for fine results without special photographic knowledge, which puts it close to the Kodak Brownie line in simplicity.

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 metal body has a rectangular pull-out front section that holds the lens and shutter. To collapse the telescoping lens board, you press the flat springs on the side of the metal telescope and the lens retracts. The shutter is fully mechanical and self-cocking. There is no mechanical interlock between the shutter and the film advance. The top housing is hard plastic or Bakelite. The back has two exposure counter windows 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 of the PD16 Clipper range, and the simpler models were its siblings. In 1941, during World War II, American Agfa assets were seized and became General Aniline and Film Corp. Photographic products later went back to the Ansco name.

Market

The Agfa Ansco Clipper Special originally sold for $5 in the mid-1930s into the 1940s. Today it typically sells for $10 - $20. It is noted to be in great overall condition when found, and its retro design makes it easy to display.