Altman Camera Company

[MattKing]

Bill Emas was only briefly here on APUG. If, however, you use the site software to try to "Start a Conversation" with him, he may have set up email notifications, so he may be alerted.

Click on his name (above the "member" box) to see the "Start a Conversation" link.

Good luck.

 

[GeoPod]

I worked for Altman's for many years. I started out in the photo finishing department and moved up to the Movie Department and worked for Don Winkler. Sold Movie equipment for many years and eventually became a buyer. I sat next to Don on the second floor right in front of Ralph's office.

Put together some photos of Altman's employees and posted them on youtube. If you'd like a link to it just send me an email. GP4u2c@gmail.com. George

Just set up a Flickr Link with Altman Camera Employees
Here's the link:
Dead Link Removed

If you have any photos you'd like to share please email them to GP4u2c@gmail.com.

Make sure to provide your full name so that I will add it to the photo.

 

[GeoPod]

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I started in 16 S Wabash store in 1966 and went to the 129 N location when it opened and stayed till fall
of 68 when I went to work for Interstate Photo Supply (AIC Photo). Wolk Camera was one door north of the 129 location. Sometimes Ralph would have me run our new price lists over to them. I worked with a great group of professionals, Al Zoot, Tony Link, S. Schwartzer and Russ Kirk are a few I remember. I thought some photos might be enjoyed.

I just set up an Flickr Account with several photos of Altman Camera. Here's the link
Dead Link Removed

If you would like your photos added please email the the photos to GP4U2C@gmail.com.

Make sure to provide me with your full name so I can add your name to the photos.

Thanks,

George Podowski

 

[lxdude]

I just set up an Flickr Account with several photos of Altman Camera. Here's the link
Dead Link Removed

Trivia: A crop of a photo from Playboy, of the Playmate in these pictures, is used to test digital image processing algorithms. It's called the "Lenna" or "Lena" picture. Her name is Lena Soderberg. The magazine used the name Lenna Sjooblom.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lenna

 

[hgoldstrom]

Today I happened to discover the APUG site and the Altman Camera Group. Paul-I was glad to see your post and it was great working with you. I worked at Altman's from 1972 to the store closing in the darkroom department for Dennis Turyna. It was a great experience and hard to believe it has been so many years ago now. I met many nice people and enjoyed the photographic camaraderie. I'd love to
hear from any old friends who may see this post. -Harry Goldstrom

 

[Sirius Glass]

Today I happened to discover the APUG site and the Altman Camera Group. Paul-I was glad to see your post and it was great working with you. I worked at Altman's from 1972 to the store closing in the darkroom department for Dennis Turyna. It was a great experience and hard to believe it has been so many years ago now. I met many nice people and enjoyed the photographic camaraderie. I'd love to
hear from any old friends who may see this post. -Harry Goldstrom

Welcome to APUG

 

[pdraver]

Today I happened to discover the APUG site and the Altman Camera Group. Paul-I was glad to see your post and it was great working with you. I worked at Altman's from 1972 to the store closing in the darkroom department for Dennis Turyna. It was a great experience and hard to believe it has been so many years ago now. I met many nice people and enjoyed the photographic camaraderie. I'd love to
hear from any old friends who may see this post. -Harry Goldstrom

Good to see your post, Harry. Altman's was a great experience and probably gave me expectations that nowhere else could come close to. There was certainly no Harry Goldstrum anywhere else! It was great working with you too. Every now and then something you used to say pops into my head. "You only go around once in life, so you've got to grab...". I'm sure you remember the rest. Paul Draver

 

[hgoldstrom]

Good to see your post, Harry. Altman's was a great experience and probably gave me expectations that nowhere else could come close to. There was certainly no Harry Goldstrum anywhere else! It was great working with you too. Every now and then something you used to say pops into my head. "You only go around once in life, so you've got to grab...". I'm sure you remember the rest. Paul Draver

Thanks Paul-great to hear from you. I also remember quite a few "Gemini Dravers..." If you are interested in catching up outside of this thread you may contact me at my website - harrygoldstrom.com

 

[Vegan 51]

Any Altman Camera alumni out there?

I worked at Altman Camera right up until the last day that they were open. The last sale of the day was from a wildfire photographer. He purchased well over $10k worth of cameras, lenses and various accessories. As I recall he wrote a check for everything and Ralph, knowing he was a great customer told me his check is good. What a fantastic place to work being surrounded by some of the finest cameras made. Great people too. I worked on the main floor selling cameras.
I don’t think there will ever be another camera store like Altman Camera.

 

[Sirius Glass]

I worked at Altman Camera right up until the last day that they were open. The last sale of the day was from a wildfire photographer. He purchased well over $10k worth of cameras, lenses and various accessories. As I recall he wrote a check for everything and Ralph, knowing he was a great customer told me his check is good. What a fantastic place to work being surrounded by some of the finest cameras made. Great people too. I worked on the main floor selling cameras.
I don’t think there will ever be another camera store like Altman Camera.

Welcome to APUG Photrio

 

[EJArgentina]

BILL EMAS

Hello to all who worked at Altman Camera, I am Bill Emas I worked there from 1968 to 1973. I appreciate all your comments and stories. Altmans was a wonderful place,many very interesting people passed thru those Wabash doors. All those old timers that were talked about were all very interesting characters, and they were a wealth of information. There are many interesting and fun things I still remember about the store. One thing always comes to mind. When a customer would bring in a broken camera and ask Tony Link what to do, he would say " I don't fix cameras I sell them " I must have heard that 1,000 times and it was always funny. Keep the spirit alive!!

 

[EJArgentina]

Dear Bill: You and Bob Moy were my first managers at Altman Camera. How fortunate I was to be around such fine professionals in my first job out of college. So many people to learn from at Altman. I failed to support myself as a photo assistant and lowly shooter in NYC. Cheryl Kooiker found me on a subway platform in Brooklyn NY in the 1980's. Now I live in Buenos Aires. Still active with personal photography

 

[Arnie_C]

Worked at Altman's in 1967-68 in cameras. Recall Selwyn Schwarz, Tony Link and Jean who cleaned up used equipment at a table in the back area just to the south of the sales counter. Of course, I remember Ralph Altman quite well. He was a fine gentleman.

 

[RJCPHOTO]

I worked at Altman's in 1973 in Cameras on the main floor. I recall several people; Robert Moy was the Manager, Ed Wills, John Sienkiewicz, Dave Blocker, Woddy Pucket and Harry Nigard. We were all selling cameras. I also remember Jerry Moscovitz at the photofinishing counter across the way. Dave Rotnick was on the 2nd or 3rd floor in Darkroom. I sold a lot of Leica cameras back in the day. Ralph Altman was a true gentleman and am glad that I was ablate experience working at such an awesome and amazing camera store.