That's pretty much what I do, with my Kodak Medalist II.
There's also a guy on eBay, or maybe used to be a guy on eBay, I haven't
bought looked to buy from him in several years, who machines down 120
roll film and inserts a machined aluminum insert into the key slot that
matches the 620 key width. Those fit pretty well in the medalist, which
is notoriously finicky about film spools. The only drawbacks are that
the only film I've seen him offer is TMax 100 and once the spools are
shaved down the ends become quite fragile, which limits their reuse.
I believe that B&H photo also sells 120 film with spools that have been
shaved down to fit, without the insert, which keeps them from being used
as take up spools
On 11/6/2015 4:40 PM, Darren Addy wrote:
By the way, if you want to play with working 620 film cameras you can
do so with 120 film:
http://www.instructables.com/id/Using-120-Film-in-620-Era-cameras/
or 35mm film (you get the exposure all the way through the sprockets,
of course):
http://www.instructables.com/id/Use-35mm-film-in-old-cameras/
Some examples here:
http://lublyou.com/2012/08/27/lomography-monday-how-to-use-35mm-film-in-a-620mm-camera/
And if you want MY recommendation for the Very Top pseudo-TLR to get,
it would be the Anscoflex II. It is not only a great (heavy duty)
camera, with a giant top viewfinder and a built-in close-up filter,
but it was designed by the world famous Raymond Loewy (as seen in this
episode of This Old Camera:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KnaC2qP8CEY
http://www.theverge.com/2013/11/5/5068132/raymond-loewy-the-man-who-designed-everything
http://www.raymondloewy.com/photo-gallery.html
Enjoy!
On Fri, Nov 6, 2015 at 3:14 PM, Darren Addy <pixelsmi...@gmail.com> wrote:
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 <webstertwenty...@gmail.com> 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
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