Cameras & the Stories That Go With Them

[doubs43]

In my effort to own one of each Leica III model screw-mount cameras, I've just won a IIIa with Summar lens on ebay. Supposedly the camera was purchased new in Hong Kong in 1937. The body and the lens do indeed date to 1937 so it's feasible that it did make it's way to a dealer in Hong Kong where it was sold that year.

There's a long standing rule in gun collecting that one buys the gun but never the "story" that goes with it unless there's irrefutable evidence to support the story.

How many here subscribe to that idea when they're buying an older camera with a "story"? Or do you accept the tale as fact because it makes the camera more interesting to own?

Walker

 

[julianphotoart]

For a camera I plan to use, which is all of them, story or no story makes no difference; story doesn't affect function.

But I did once buy a camera that turned out to have a wee bit of a story. A story to me anyway. When I purchased my Super Ikonta, it came in a case. Marked inside the case was the name and address of a person. I researched the person and it appears that the family involved was the family of Ivor Matanle's mother. For those who don't know Mr. Matanle, he wrote two semi-Bibles on camera collecting in the 1990's.

 

[RML]

I'd love to take any story about my cameras on face value! I don't have any stories with them, so anything will do. 😛

 

[rover]

My Canon IV SB2, 50/1.8 lens and Walz filter kit is an ebay find from the original owner. I emailed him when I saw the posting and we corresponded throughout the listing. No great stories about the camera from him other than that through the years he used it often and really enjoyed it. When I won the auction he sent me a note thanking me for my bid, and stated that he was happy I won his camera. He knew it was going to a good home.

I am sure my camera has some stories, I will be happy to give it a few more to remember.