Vintage camera appraisal help (Including Speed & Crown Graphics, Graphlex Series C)

I'm interested in selling some or all of my grandfather's vintage cameras (partial list below). I've just returned from the Photographic Historical Society of New England's Show/Sale and while I'm sure I could have sold much of what I brought, I don't have a clear idea of the equipment's realistic value and didn't want to sell anything to inexpensively.

Any suggestions on how to find someone who can give me valid appraisals on this equipment? I'm in New England near Concord NH, so Boston is a pretty easy drive for me.

Oh, I've also cross-posted this in the rangefinder area.

Anyway, thanks for the help,

Bill Potter
Webster NH

Here's a partial list of the gear:

Kodak Premo #9 5X7 large format (no lens)

Graflex Series C Series:149776 w/lens & original case

Crown Graphic Serial # 801908 w/Optar F/4.7 135 mm lens

Speed Graphic Serial # 751415 w/Optar F/4.7 135 mm lens

Speed Graphic Serial #752876 w/Optar F/4.7 135 mm lens w/120 roll film back

Rolleflex Serial #1251232 w/lens

Contax Series 1 Serial # AV24770 w/Tessar 1:2.8 50mm lens w/case

Contax Series Serial # F22145 w/film w/Sonnar 1:1.5 50mm lens

Contax lens:
Planar 1:3.5 35mm lens
Sonnar 1:1.5 50mm lens
Sonnar 1:2 85mm lens
Tessar 1:3.5 50mm lens

Korona Large Format

Tele-Xenar F5.5 36cm lens

Graflex flash unit for Graphics

Other less-vintage

Peerflekta II w/leather case

Argus w/leather case

Kodak Retina w/ 1/2 leather case

Baby Blitz bulb flash unit (w/original box and instructions)

Minolta Hi-Matic 7s w/ 1/2 leather case

Nikon FM Serial # 3140301 w/ Nikkor 50mm 1:2 lens

Bill,
I just sent you a PM, I'm in the Monadnock region SW of Concord. I can help you evaluate what you have and point you to some resources in the area.

Barry

With such a varied list it's hard to start anywhere... most is worth what someone is willing to pay. A show guy will likely give you 30% of what they might sell it for within a couple months.
Argus if it's a C3 is worth about $5
The Nikon FM in nice clean shape with lens you mention perhaps $125
Korona.. anywhere from 25 to 250 again depending on condition film gate size, is there a lens?
If the Korona has a Dagor lens the lens could be worth $300 or it could be worth nothing if it is hazed up and scratched.

The Contax Lenses might be worth as much as $175 each again depending on condition... they might be worth nothing.
Take em to an good camera shop they may or may not take the time to tell you what the condition and market is going for,

IF!!! That Contax stuff is clean and the Rollie is clean and tidy you might have several hundred or more than a thousand in stuff to sell.

Sorry, but a list of photo gear alone is pretty much useless in getting an accurate estimate of value. Non-functional film cameras & lenses are "worth" next to nothing while mint, working examples are worth a lot more. So these items have to be inspected by a knowledgeable person to get any realistic idea of value.

Bill Potter said:

I'm interested in selling some or all of my grandfather's vintage cameras (partial list below). I've just returned from the Photographic Historical Society of New England's Show/Sale and while I'm sure I could have sold much of what I brought, I don't have a clear idea of the equipment's realistic value and didn't want to sell anything to inexpensively.

Any suggestions on how to find someone who can give me valid appraisals on this equipment? I'm in New England near Concord NH, so Boston is a pretty easy drive for me.

Oh, I've also cross-posted this in the rangefinder area.

Anyway, thanks for the help,

Bill Potter
Webster NH

Here's a partial list of the gear:

Kodak Premo #9 5X7 large format (no lens)

Graflex Series C Series:149776 w/lens & original case

Crown Graphic Serial # 801908 w/Optar F/4.7 135 mm lens

Speed Graphic Serial # 751415 w/Optar F/4.7 135 mm lens

Speed Graphic Serial #752876 w/Optar F/4.7 135 mm lens w/120 roll film back

...

Click to expand...

Estimated manufacture dates:

Est 1926 Graflex Series C Serial # 149776 w/lens & original case

Est 1950 Crown Graphic Serial # 801908 w/Optar F/4.7 135 mm lens

Est 1949 Speed Graphic Serial # 751415 w/Optar F/4.7 135 mm lens

Est 1949 Speed Graphic Serial #752876 w/Optar F/4.7 135 mm lens w/120 roll film back

You need to provide photographs or describe the condition of each camera.

Steve

All of the cameras are in working order (except the shutter on the Graphlex Series C) and everything could benefit from a clean and lube. I certainly realize that values can vary hugely and have posted here hoping to find someone with the knowledge and expertise to help me ascertain reasonable asking prices for the gear. I've already had one offer from someone somewhat local. I love the crowd sourcing power of the inter-tubes!

Thanks,

Bill

I just inherited a whole shipload of camera gear. Here is how I evaluate it.

First I grade the item on 7 categories: Lens/Optical - Shutter - Aperture - Film Trasport - Film Gate - Body - Case/Accessory/Other
I give each category a score from 1 to 5. A "5" is PERFECT, just like it came from the factory, brand new. A "1" is JUNK. I score each category and come up with an average. That is my "condition score." I calculate it as a decimal from 0 to 1.

Second, I go on eBay and other websites to see what the prices of a given item are. I figure out what is the top price for that item and I consider that the mint condition price.

Finally, I multiply the price by the condition score to come up with an asking price.

If this all sounds complicated, it really isn't so bad if you use a spreadsheet to do the calculation for you. Once you have the formulas written it's all just cut and paste from there on out.

That's how I evaluate my camera gear but, as others have said, nothing is worth money unless you can find somebody to buy it.
You could have an original Babe Ruth baseball card and you could claim it's worth a million dollars. It very well might be but, unless you can find somebody willing to fork over a million clams, that priceless collectible is little more than a piece of pasteboard.

Bottom line: A professional evaluation and appraisal is the way to go but this is a good place to start. It should give you enough to go on so you can have some idea of what you've got to work with. Then you can take it from there.

If the Contax Sonnar 85/2 lens is in good shape (no fungus or scratches on the lens) it's a very nice, reasonably sought-after portrait lens ("good bokeh", as they say). A quick check on eBay shows recent prices on it in Contax RF mount go for US$500-700.

Otherwise, I'm not familiar with the specifics of many of those cameras price-wise. If you can't get local assistance, we will need pics at least, and also more details on some of them - for example, you list "Kodak Retina" - there were many Retina models - see here for a description of the folding versions, and I believe Kodak recycled the name for some later less-desirable non-folding ones as well.

Also, if all else fails locally, you can try talking to Dead Link Removed in Atlanta - they have built a reputation on being honest buyers and sellers (although they are conservative in their evaluations of gear quality and price - good for buyers, not quite as good for sellers). If they are interested in anything you've got, you will need to ship it to Atlanta, however.

The Graflex Series C is a rare, valuable camera, format 3-1/4 x 4-1/4 in. The original lens is a huge, heavy Cooke f/2.5, which is reputedly mind-blowing wide open. Getting a CLA for the shutter would be well worth while. The best bet I know for this is 45PSS on graflex.org. He has done a CLA on a Graflex for me. Send him a PM.
With the Cooke lens the Series C has sold for $800-900 on the auction site. If you decide to sell this one by itself, please send me a PM!

tessar said:

...If you decide to sell this one by itself, please send me a PM!

Click to expand...

I think this is the OP's intent!

Ebay completed auctions of items that actually sold are perhaps the best indication of value. The price range there of identical items varies over a wide range, depending partly on luck and more on how the ad is written. An ad with quality photos showing all essential characteristics and a knowledgeable written discription is usually needed for best results. The ad should state with authority and accuracy the functional condition and any flaws in the item. With such an ad, one can start with a low price and let the buyers determine the value.

Good advice Jim. That's quite helpful and starting to look like the route I might go. Some folks have expressed interest in some of the equipment directly. Is it bad forum etiquette to sell directly to members?

Thanks,

Bill

This might be of some use as well:

http://collectiblend.com/Cameras/

ebay isn't a bad way to sell the stuff, but like Jim said, the prices can have quite a range, depending on who is online, who wants a camera, who has the money, etc.

You do need to have an idea of a reasonable price, so you can set a reserve, otherwise you may not make enough for the item.

Pictures (and info/description) definitely are an important selling point and if you can make something look good (and sound good), it will sell.

You're asking in the right place anyway, as most people here will give you a fair idea of what to expect.

I'm always interested in whether people ever hang onto a camera as a keepsake, or something to pass on. I always valued anything my parents or grandparents passed onto me. I know in the end it's all just stuff, but having and using the camera your great-grandfather once used seems kinda special.

Check for exposed film in those cameras too! If you want to see any new/old family memories the film can still be processed, often with good results.