Roger's Leica

guangong · Oct 21, 2022

This is simply my curiosity. Many, many years ago a dear friend, Roger Pelham, Leica dealer, photographer, enthusiast, and collector, was presented a Leica M camera by Leica for his varied contributions to Leica cameras. The camera was engraved with Roger’s name. Returning from a trip, his Leica was stolen from the trunk of his car at a hotel many years ago. I don’t remember if it was an M3 or M4. By now the camera must have passed through many ownership hands. Who knows the thief or the unknowing innocent purchaser, but I’m just wondering where the camera is now. I can’t remember exactly when, but Roger has been dead for at least 20 years.
When house bound by age, I used to send him cassette tapes of jazz made from my record collection.

NB23 · Oct 22, 2022

I’he had a few Leicas with scratched off engravings... because who wants to own a camera with someone else’s name on it?

M-88 · Oct 22, 2022

I bet Roger's camera doesn't have his name on it for a very long time by now. It might have been a safer bet to obtain a replacement plate for the camera and replace the engraved part altogether.

guangong · Oct 22, 2022

NB and M88 make good points about changing the plate, except that the engraving was on the top plate. Back then, any Leica repairman would have recognized his name. It was not put on the base plate as with a dealer’s special.
I suppose that my point was that Roger would be happy knowing that someone somewhere was enjoying the use of his camera.

Sirius Glass · Oct 22, 2022

guangong said:
NB and M88 make good points about changing the plate, except that the engraving was on the top plate. Back then, any Leica repairman would have recognized his name. It was not put on the base plate as with a dealer’s special.
I suppose that my point was that Roger would be happy knowing that someone somewhere was enjoying the use of his camera.

You are assuming that he would have been pleased that for such to happen the camera was stolen from him. Do not project on others how you would feel, unless you are them.

Huss · Oct 22, 2022

This thread just reinforces the fact to never leave valuables in your car.

Sirius Glass · Oct 22, 2022

Huss said:
This thread just reinforces the fact to never leave valuables in your car.

Especially on the car seat or on the floor. If one must leave it in the trunk, put it there before one leaves the last place so no one sees you putting things in the trunk and walking away.

Huss · Oct 22, 2022

Sirius Glass said:
.. If one must leave it in the trunk, put it there before one leaves the last place so no one sees you putting things in the trunk and walking away.

Exactly. So many people park, put stuff in their trunk and walk away. Not realizing that they are being watched. It's how you lose stuff in Oakland and San Fran.

Sirius Glass · Oct 23, 2022

Huss said:
Exactly. So many people park, put stuff in their trunk and walk away. Not realizing that they are being watched. It's how you lose stuff in Oakland and San Fran.

Not just those two cities, many places worldwide.

Huss · Oct 23, 2022

It's interesting to see how times have changed. I have seem many old cameras with the owner's name, or driver's license, or social sec # scratched (usually) or engraved on the camera. It tells you that back then camera purchases were seen as a permanent thing. Unlike today, the camera you bought you kept, and expected it to last.
Also it shows a more innocent time before identity theft became rampant.

If a camera had someone's name engraved on it nicely, I'd leave it be. But any that have stuff scratched on it, I move on. I just couldn't stand looking at that mess, and some cameras where they have that scratched off look even worse.

guangong · Oct 24, 2022

Sirius Glass said:
You are assuming that he would have been pleased that for such to happen the camera was stolen from him. Do not project on others how you would feel, unless you are them.

What I wanted to imply was that, being a great Leica enthusiast, he would probably prefer the camera be used rather than for a Leica camera be trashed. As I recall, the camera also had a distinctive serial number, following Leitz’ habit with presentation cameras.

Roger's Leica

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