Restored Agfa Isolette/Ansco Speedex 6x6 - Free (with a few conditions)

[Steve Smith]

Here are a couple from my test roll through my Ansco Speedex Special R. Nothing stunning, just taken during a walk along the seafront.

[Steve Smith]

Here are a few more from the same place, the next day and at low tide.
These are negative scans done on the scanner at work which is only supposed to do 35mm but with my home made negative holder, it will scan 48mm wide. Hence the rectangular, not quite full frame.
These are Ilford Delta 400 which I used at EI 1600. I have never pushed a film higher than its box ISO before but I am pleased with the look of these. I will make some proper prints to confirm this though.

Steve.

[sifu17055]

I would be indebted to you if you still had one of your lovingly restored cameras to give.

Chris Toddes

[B&Jdude]

Golly, it's been over a month since you posted the e-mail about the Isolettes, and I can see from the expected response that they went fast. I surely will be watching for the next time you put another batch on here.

I have never owned an Isolette, but did have a Super Ikonta B folder that I loved to use back in the early 1990's when I was living in Northern, VA. I got into a financial bind and had to sell it, along with my Model 1 Kodak Panoram, to a camera repairman (and collector, Jessie Newberry) there in the Vienna area. To this very day I greatly regret selling those cameras -- both were mint, and everbody kept trying to buy them from me

I do have a folder now, a Zenobia, which takes decent pictures, I suppose, but it isn't in the same league as either the Isolette or Ikonta.

It's a fine thing you are doing there, and shows how much you truly love those old folders!

EuGene

[Steve Smith]

Originally Posted by nsurit

Maybe someone could even start a "pay it forward" thread.

If by 'pay it forward' you are referring to things we could do to return the favour then I will start.

A week after I received my Ansco Speedex I realised I had three Olympus XA2 cameras which I was never going to use (I also have an XA) so I offered them on a separate thread. These are now with new owners in Canada, US and Luxemburg.

I think all of us who received cameras from John should try to pass on the favour in this way if we can as most of us have too much gear including items that rarely or never get used which could be of value to others.

As with John's original offer, I paid for the postage but I did ask for a donation to APUG in return.


Steve.

[Ragtime Clown]

Originally Posted by jsfyfe

For the past year I have been restoring Agfa Isolettes and Ansco Speedex 6x6 folders as an enjoyable hobby. I do it mainly for the satisfaction of transforming these 50 year old cameras from dust collectors to fully functional photographic instruments

I think this is a fantastic story - would you consider uploading some photographs of your finished pieces before you pass them on?