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Vintage Ansco "Bear Photo Special" 1938 6x9 Metal Box Camera.
The Ansco "Bear Photo Special" is a vintage 6x9 metalbox camera produced around 1938. Known for its unique Art Decofaceplate featuring a sun ray design and a golden bear emblem, thiscamera was specifically manufactured for the Bear Photo ServiceCompany of San Francisco, California. This model is a specializedvariant of the Ansco B2 Cadet.
The camera uses 120 roll film, marketed by Ansco as "B2"film, and produces eight 6x9 cm exposures per roll. Its lens is afixed-focus meniscus type, with a fixed aperture of approximatelyf/11. It has a simple rotary shutter with a speed of approximately1/60th of a second, including both "Instant" and "Time"(long exposure) settings. The camera also features two ground-glassviewfinders, one for portrait (vertical) and one for landscape(horizontal) orientations.
Constructed from pressed metal, this camera is more durable thanmany contemporary cardboard box cameras. As a unique regional variantwith distinct Art Deco styling, it is sought-after by vintage cameracollectors.
