Roll Film Camera Appraisal

Ansco Lancer 127 Roll Film Camera with Speedflash Unit

The Ansco Lancer is a mid-century snapshot camera manufactured around 1959. This unit features a distinctive two-toned silver and black plastic body, designed as a 127 roll film camera. The front lens assembly is clearly marked 'ANSCO LANCER' in red lettering with 'SCONAR LENS' below. Notable markings on the lens rim include exposure settings for Portrait (3-6 ft), Group (6-15 ft), and Scenic (inf), along with weather-based aperture symbols. Atop the camera is a large, integrated 'Speedflash Unit' with a pebbled chrome reflector bowl, which was designed to use AG-1 flashbulbs. The overall construction is typical of mass-produced consumer cameras from the late 1950s, utilizing a mix of molded plastics and stamped metal components. The design is compact and ergonomic, featuring a large shutter release button on the front face and a black textured synthetic leatherette grip. Condition-wise, the camera appears remarkably well-preserved with some minor surface dust and micro-scratches on the chrome finishes. The flash unit retains its original brilliant luster, and the lens glass shows no immediate signs of fungus or deep scratching, though a mechanical functional test would be required to verify timing and flash synchronization. This model represents the transition from box cameras to more modern, streamlined aesthetics in American amateur photography history.