For my retirement...

[FrankS]

... my Speed Graphic will be coming out of its retirement.

Now, I need an anvil like I need a hole in the head, but something drew me to buy it. It may be the awesomeness of the mass and density of the object, and its lovely sculptural shape. I will be photographing it. This idea may be the one that awakens the LF plan I've had for my retirement. That Speed Graphic will once again see the light of day.

And I may also pick up another hobby. Does anyone here do blacksmithing or knife-making?

 

[FrankS]

How much do anvils sell for in your area?

 

[ellisson]

That anvil on top of a wide flat surface with film negatives underneath would get them flattened quickly!

 

[FrankS]

So far, so good, Franko! It's like the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. 🙂

 

[leica M2 fan]

It will very soon be 18 years since I retired! It has been the best part of my life and given me the most enjoyment. Travel and photography rule everything else. Enjoy yours guys!

 

[Calzone]

Frank,

Congrates on your retirement.

I made a wonderful combat knife that I wish I still had. I bought the blank from Atlanta Cutlery and it was basically the steel from a WWII Kay-Bar with a tang.

At that time I had friends in a machine shop who made me a brass pummel and knife guard. I used Cocobolo for the handle.

I have narrow shoulders, long arms and am very fast and agile. Having a custom knife fitted to your hand is kinda special. With all the moving and disruptions in life somehow I no longer have it, but know that it is one of the few items from my past that I miss.

Cal

 

[Emile de Leon]

That Speed G..is one of the best cams...ever made...enjoy!
Here's my dads..w/Steinheil lens..

I used a more recent model..2x3 & 4x5 Crowns..
Here is a pic he took in the 40's..style of the day..NYC dancer...either the Schneider 3.5 Xenar..or the Steinheil..

 

[Darthfeeble]

I started doing nothing 13 years ago and I'm not done yet. Congratulations.

 

[FrankS]

I'm one and a half years into it and have been busy doing nothing as well. 🙂

 

[daveleo]

Well "you can never have too many anvils", is what I always say.

 

[FrankS]

Everyone needs one. 😉

 

[Shac]

Glad to hear you've joined us lucky ones Frank Hope you enjoy it as much as I have.
When you mentioned anvil and Speed Graphic in the same sentence I thought at first you were referring to the weight of the camera😀

Best for 2016 by the way

 

[ChrisN]

Nice/jealous. In my town there's a fairly healthy knife-making community, including classes at a forge about 10 minutes away, and your anvil would fetch several hundred dollars.

 

[Gerry M]

I'm starting my 16th year of this not working venture and just starting to get the hang of it. Spent 7 years on a sailboat trying to become accustomed to this. I think it is going to be OK! 🙂

 

[sanmich]

What this forum needs is an anvil porn thread

 

[Spavinaw]

Retirement--Ah yes. I've been at it just over eight years now. Folks would ask me what I was going to do. I'd tell them the first thing I was going to do was repair a little doll chair that had been in the family forever. I haven't touched that chair yet! Yes, I think I've got the hang of it pretty well.
Somewhere I saw a sign similar to this, "How satisfying it is to do nothing and rest afterwards".

 

[DNG]

Enjoy... and photograph like crazy...
I just turned 62, but, I had to retire early, at 55... been waiting to start receiving my SSI retirement checks I paid taxes into all my working life. March 2016 will my 1st....
I can wait till then, that will be my ticket to photograph like crazy...

Enjoy again... and try out Impossible Project Polaroid film also...
A great time to bring grandkids with you...

 

[daveleo]

Wife: What are you doing today?
Retired Guy: Nothing.
Wife: You did that yesterday!
Retired Guy: I'm not finished.

 

[JoeV]

Congrats on the milestone and Speed Graphic.

I've had a Speed Graphic since the late 1980s, but didn't begin to really appreciate it until I found that I could simply unscrew the front objective lens of a 7x50 binocular and mount it to a hand made lens board made from thin model aircraft plywood. With a 150mm focal length, and crazy bokeh if used wide open, once stopped down with hand made aperture stops it gets pretty sharp, and the curtain shutter of the Speed Graphic works well for timing the exposures. These cameras are great for adapting makeshift optics - like a Fujinon Xerox machine lens, or even a plastic fresnel magifyer. Great fun.

~Joe

 

[FrankS]

Congrats on the milestone and Speed Graphic.

I've had a Speed Graphic since the late 1980s, but didn't begin to really appreciate it until I found that I could simply unscrew the front objective lens of a 7x50 binocular and mount it to a hand made lens board made from thin model aircraft plywood. With a 150mm focal length, and crazy bokeh if used wide open, once stopped down with hand made aperture stops it gets pretty sharp, and the curtain shutter of the Speed Graphic works well for timing the exposures. These cameras are great for adapting makeshift optics - like a Fujinon Xerox machine lens, or even a plastic fresnel magifyer. Great fun.

~Joe

Yes, adapting alternative lenses and lenses without shutters was key in my desciion to acquire a Speed G. Thanks for the tip about the binocular lens!

Everyone, at least every retired person, should have a Speed Graphic and an anvil! 😉