Thanks for the info/link P.J. You gave me the idea to search Google Books to see if I could narrow it down through advertisements. Here is what the Rediflex "Outfit" looked like in 1950: https://goo.gl/82gLZw Mine is clearly later. Found this description (but no picture) from a 1952 publication that describes a "1951 deluxe Ansco Gadget Bag" https://goo.gl/zStuEP The price is also $24.95 for the kit (which was still a chunk of change in the early 50's). I'm guessing that mine is from that era.
>From that search I also learned that the Rediflex was something of a pioneer in its use of plastics ( being cited in publications for its innovation in publications up to 1959). I also found two 1947 publications referring to the new Rediflex, which would mean that those place publishing 1948 dates for it's introduction might be a year off. Finally, from that search, found an interesting book that I'm going to have to see if I can find from Interlibrary Loan. (The prices for it, even on the used market are too rich for my blood): http://www.ebay.com/itm/ANTHONY-THE-MAN-COMPANY-CAMERAS-BY-WILLIAM-ESTELLE-MARDER-FIRST-EDITION-/360612404378 One of his companies was apparently Ansco and the Rediflex is mentioned inside. Another Google Books search using the film box info (Ansco "All-Weather" film "Economy Pak") yields it being mentioned starting in 1952 and on, although the box looked different than mine in 1952, judging by this ad from a KC newspaper on July 1, 1952: http://www.antiqueauto.org/assets/AnscoAdKC1952.png I also found that Pacific Rim is trying to sell the little instruction book that comes with my kit for nearly 1/2 the price that I paid for the whole kit: http://www.ebay.com/itm/ANSCO-REDIFLEX-INSTRUCTION-BOOK-183983-/381435077241 Finally, Butkus.org has (what appears to be an older version of) the manual: http://www.cameramanuals.org/agfa_ansco/ansco_rediflex.pdf I think the model on the cover of mine looks more modern (I'm guessing). By the way, I found my box of TTV cameras (along with my Minolta 110 and my stash of unused 110 and 126 films). I have two other Rediflex cameras but they both have cosmetic issues (still useful for TTV, of course). So this new kit will definitely be the new "display" model for me. Taking a quick inventory, it looks like I have about 20 of these pseudo-TLRs (and two real TLRs... a Mamiyaflex and a C33). Please don't report me to the reality show "Hoarders". :) On Fri, Nov 6, 2015 at 1:16 PM, P.J. Alling <[email protected]> wrote: > Site, site, site... Damned spell checker. > > > On 11/6/2015 2:14 PM, P.J. Alling wrote: >> >> According to this sit it's circa 1950. >> >> http://web4homes.com/cameras/ansco.htm >> >> On 11/6/2015 1:16 PM, Darren Addy wrote: >>> >>> I've got a soft spot for psuedo-TLR cameras. I think they are cool >>> looking and there is something about looking down at the world through >>> their distorted waist level viewfinders that feeds my soul. One of my >>> favorites is the Ansco Rediflex. >>> >>> Last night I picked up (on that infernal auction site) one of the >>> mintiest Rediflex kits you will probably ever see. It (quite likely) >>> has only had one roll of film put through it, as it has a 3-pack box >>> of B&W Ansco 620 film with two of the rolls still inside it >>> (expiration date Feb. 1965). They started making the Rediflex in 1948 >>> and I'm not sure when they stopped. The expiration date on the film >>> might give a clue to its age, but I'm not sure how long after >>> manufacture Ansco placed their expiration dates. I'd guess that this >>> kit is from the mid-50s: >>> >>> http://www.antiqueauto.org/assets/rediflexKit.jpg >>> >> >> > > > -- > I don't want to achieve immortality through my work; I want to achieve > immortality through not dying. > -- Woody Allen > > > -- > PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List > [email protected] > http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net > to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and > follow the directions. -- Life is too short to put up with bad bokeh. -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List [email protected] http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow the directions.
