A Unique Universal Mercury Camera

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Steve M.

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I spied this on etsy, where I sometimes like to look at stuff. The camera is, well, what it is, and the price....

The scary part is the seller's last sentence on the ad "All offers considered, with special attention to those involving small animals..." With that particular price, what exactly do you think he has in mind for those small animals? And can someone tell me when the Inter Galactic shuttle will be leaving? I would like to go, please.


https://www.etsy.com/listing/197448...age=2&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery
 
Although I don't know anything about this camera...I can't see how it could possibly sell for $666. It looks like it was sitting in a dump for the last 60+ years!
 
Not even remotely worth that sort of money. They aren't particularly uncommon in antique shops and such for $30 + or -
Haven't seen one for sale in that poor condition.

The interesting thing about them is that they have a rotary shutter similar to a movie camera, which is the reason for the half-moon portion of the upper housing.
 
That's hilarious! I love the seller's understated tongue-in-cheek sense of humor - "would benefit from a CLA," "In amazing condition, I can truthfully say I have never seen one quite like it," and even the 666 reference. Too funny. 😀
 
Having had multiple Mercury's - this is the worst looking one I have seen! It could probably be resurrected - but why? I am sure that the focus is jammed anyway - the design had an alloy barrel running in an alloy thread and they oxidized and jammed! At the moment I have two, both with stuck focus helicoil - one is cross threaded and one is just oxidized and stuck. Funny cameras and I suspect that the exposure information on the metal discs is the origin of the incomprehensible menu's on today digital cameras!
 
Tom A said:
Having had multiple Mercury's - this is the worst looking one I have seen! It could probably be resurrected - but why? I am sure that the focus is jammed anyway - the design had an alloy barrel running in an alloy thread and they oxidized and jammed! At the moment I have two, both with stuck focus helicoil - one is cross threaded and one is just oxidized and stuck. Funny cameras and I suspect that the exposure information on the metal discs is the origin of the incomprehensible menu's on today digital cameras!
Click to expand...
Dear Tom,

Nah, come on, the Mercury was clearer than that...

Not much, though.

Cheers,

R.
 
I only paid $20 for mine, and overhauled it myself. Kind of like restoring an old automobile, using finer grades of sandpaper as you go along. I wish I could see the photos of the one for sale, as it would be interesting to see if it can be resurrected.

PF
 
Okay, I finally got a look at it today (something to do with Google not liking the site). Yeeeesh! And I thought mine was a bit crudded up. But you know, that body looks like it would clean up with an extra bit of work. Only issue would be if the back door channels are pitted too much to hold back the light. It would look really good with new snakeskin coverings. Whether the lens is any good is another matter.

PF
 
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