If only your cameras could talk.

Ian Grant · Jul 22, 2009

Buying second-hand LF equipment has lead me to think,

I can trace the first owners of my two late 30's Agfa Ansco's, both quite different one a lecturer at the Clarence White School of Photography, the other a NY Portrait photographer of Italian extraction.

But it's my German cameras that are more enigmatic, who owned and used the Patent Etui's made by a Jewish owned company, or the Leica IIA all bought frm Germany, what did the camweras witness, and then there's the 3 other pre-War 9x12's from Germany.

I doubt my Speed/Crown Graphics saw much at all in comparison, but I'm intrigued as to what use the 9x12's had.

Ian

Uncle Goose · Jul 22, 2009

This makes me wonder sometimes too. I have a few old Meopta Flexaret II's (one from before World War 2 and one from the communist eara), both show signs or some use. These were higher class camera's in their time with decent Triplets and several speeds so I wonder what they all saw and shot back then.

flatulent1 · Jul 22, 2009

As they say, a picture's worth a thousand words. :rolleyes:

I know what you mean. I have a few German folders that may have seen interesting times; far more likely they shot family and vacation photos.

Sirius Glass · Jul 22, 2009

Mine would say, "Take me out more and shoot more film!"

Steve

ntenny · Jul 22, 2009

I have a Zeiss camera that I'm almost certain was of wartime manufacture; that's the one that makes me really curious. The wartime history of the Zeiss factory is really interesting and incompletely known.

For the most part, I'm more curious about who made my cameras than who used them. Several of them make me wish I could let the factory crew know that they were producing a real gem that was going to be appreciated however-many decades later. Only one or two make me want to go back in time and smack the designers upside the head.

-NT

Christopher Walrath · Jul 22, 2009

Wirelessly posted (BBBold: BlackBerry9000/4.6.0.167 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/102 UP.Link/6.3.0.0.0)

I have a Zeiss Ikon camera made in Germany in 1951. A lot of photographs/slides can be made in 58 years.

removed account4 · Jul 22, 2009

i just wonder what they will say about me once i sell mine ...

doomtroll · Jul 22, 2009

Its things like this that make finding gear at flea markets or garage sales fun. Because the chances of finding a roll of partially exposed film in them is neat.

naeroscatu · Jul 23, 2009

Gread idea but I truly hope if they can talk they will do it one at the time...
I have about 50 going back between 30 and 80 years old.

Christopher Walrath · Jul 23, 2009

naeroscatu said:
Gread idea but I truly hope if they can talk they will do it one at the time...
I have about 50 going back between 30 and 80 years old.

This is where call waiting comes in handy.

John Lawrence · Jul 23, 2009

Ian Grant said:
But it's my German cameras that are more enigmatic, who owned and used the Patent Etui's made by a Jewish owned company, or the Leica IIA all bought frm Germany, what did the camweras witness, and then there's the 3 other pre-War 9x12's from Germany.
Ian

Not sure if it's true or not, but I seem to remember reading somewhere that Leitz kept a register of the buyers of their cameras in olden times - and still have it today. Apparently a few Leica aficianados have approached them to see if they can get details for their cameras, but Leica are reluctant to issue the information in case the current owners contact relatives of the original owner or (in some cases) the original owner themselves.

One of the things I can't help doing though when looking at old copies of Leica Fotografie is to check the serial numbers of the stolen / missing cameras against my own Leicas ....

Ian Grant · Jul 23, 2009

Leitz had a good record under the Nazi's, and managed to move Jewish employees out of Germany to Canada, the US etc. They also hid the prototypes of the IV series, which was the forerunner of the M series cameras. There's no doubt Leitz could have supplied vastly superior cameras to the military if so inclined.

It's worth remembering that in the UK there was a shortage of cameras for military use early in the war, all sorts of cameras were donated and Focal Press were asked to produce a series of Guide books for all the common brands & models. As the war progressed captured German cameras would have been pressed into service.

Ian

naeroscatu · Jul 23, 2009

This is where call waiting comes in handy.

Chris, this is hilarious. Thanks.
This reminds me of my brother in law who owns about 10 different grandfather clocks, very old and beautiful until they all start to chime around the same time

Lightproof · Jul 23, 2009

My 4x4 Rollei was owned by a female opera singer. The seller told me, but I forgot the name. Her husband was Head of the law section of Mercedes Benz.
My 2.8F has had a name plate inside the neverready case and also belonged to a woman.

The only camera that I fully know is the Contaflex of my grandpa. I now have the camera and all the slides and negs.

Paul Goutiere · Jul 23, 2009

All one has to do, is spend a day driving in a vehicle with a GPS jabbering directions all the time to begin to wonder if one day cameras will really be talking as well.
Now wouldn't this be bloody lovely?

Leighgion · Jul 23, 2009

I like to imagine that my Agfa Clack is a foul-mouthed cantankerous old bat who has a glass of beer at lunch every day and could prattle on about post-war reconstruction until you died of boredom.

Wade D · Jul 26, 2009

My 4 post war Exakta's (early 50's) could probably tell a tale or two. So could my Crown View and Speed Graphic. If they started talking I'd tell them to shut up. I can't stand modern cars telling me where to go or the incessant ringing of cell phones with calls from people I don't want to talk to. I can read a map if I'm lost or stop at a pay phone if I need to talk. This forum and a few others is about as connected as I want to be. I just can't understand the need to be in touch electronically when face to face contact is so much more enjoyable. I do enjoy new technology but with a grain of salt.:rolleyes:

Anton Lukoszevieze · Jul 26, 2009

My Zeiss Baby Ikonta was given to my father-in-law during WWII by a French couple in gratitude for the D-Day invasion. It works perfectly, was unused for 60 years.

IloveTLRs · Aug 1, 2009

I have a IIIb made in 1939. I wonder what it would say (I bought it here in Japan- I wonder how it got here.)

Prest_400 · Aug 1, 2009

I would like to know the history of my OM. I already bought it CLA'd on the bay. Who may have owned it? Where has it went to?
Though, I Do know the history of my 135mm Zuiko. Only one owner who bought it at london, used it a bit until he received a tele zoom as a present. It came with the original box, in a very nice condition.

I do know the history of the Trip 35 of my father, that I will retrieve soon. It has visited america, both north and south. Went to the amazon, Southeast asia, thailand, burma... Has seen USSR, Moscow '80 Olympic games.
In the mid 1990s he found that scale focus wasn't accurate enough for taking photos of babies (me) and he left it for my grandpa, who has kept it in a drawer for years.

jasonhall · Aug 1, 2009

Two that comes to mind...the Brownie Target 616 that belonged to my grandmother and grandfather. Also my Argus A2B (post war). Eeryone seems to think it (the Argus) belonged to my mother, but noone can remember for sure. I cleaned up both cameras and shot a roll of film in each. I took photos of my grandmother and uncle and around her home place. After words I developed and scanned the negs and then had prints made. I gave her the prints. She was so happy to have photos from that Brownie agian and was so very sure it would never, or could never, be used again. She was so impressed with my efforts and interest that she gave me the camera (it was in really good condition). She called the next day and said that my uncle demanded the camera back...I am sure I will never see it again. Family can be funny like that.

Jason

nick mulder · Aug 14, 2009

I've learned one of my 16mm Bolexes had a dip in the ocean in the early 90's - complete rebuild ! - working fine for me

ricksplace · Aug 14, 2009

I have a pre-anny speed that has "Times Journal" engraved on it. (Newspaper in the former Fort William. Fort William and Port Arthur amalgamated in 1970 to form Thunder Bay.)

If only your cameras could talk.

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