ANSCO NO. 8

The Anthony & Scovill Company, New York 1901? - 1903?

The Ansco No. 8 is believed to have been introduced in either late 1901, after E. & H.T. Anthony & Company merged with Scovill & Adams to form the Anthony & Scovill Company or in 1902.

This assumption is based on the camera's style, its film magazine feature and the placement of its view finders. By 1903, ads are appearing for Anthony & Scovill's No. 2 Ansco and No. 3 Ansco box cameras that were initially fitted with removable roll film magazines. The No. 2 produced pictures 3-1/4 x 4-1/4 and the No. 3, 4x5 pictures:

No. 2 Ansco No. 3 Ansco

No. 2 Ansco Film Magazine

The roll film magazines, constructed of wood with an aluminum faceplate and brass fittings are identical to the magazine found on the Ansco No. 8:

The placement of the view finders on the No. 2 and No. 3 Ansco's are at the 9 o'clock and 12 o'clock positions, versus the Ansco No. 8's view finders that are positioned in the upper corners:

No. 2 Ansco No. 3 Ansco

Ansco No. 8

The Ansco No. 8 with its hinged front door, view finder placement, and rack-and-pinion focusing arrangement, is very similar to Eastman Kodak's No. 4 Bulls-Eye Special that was offered from 1898 to 1904. Both cameras are also very close in their physical dimensions:

Ansco No. 8 No. 4 Bulls-Eye Special

The Ansco No. 8's hinged door also has a unique recess that encompasses the shutter's pneumatic release valve:

These characteristics all suggest that the Ansco No. 8 preceded the No. 2 and No. 3 Ansco's (or possibly ran concurrent with their introduction) based on its more primitive style and having the removable roll film magazine feature that was discontinued later in the No. 2 and No. 3 Ansco's production.

This Ansco No. 8 is missing its shutter release linkage, but is otherwise complete and was formerly owned by well known camera collector and photographic historian Eaton S. Lothrop, Jr. With no catalog references, advertisements or any other examples seen, this camera is extremely scarce or borderline rare.

Ansco No. 8 No. 4 Bulls-Eye Special