SCOTFORTHLAD
Slow learner,but keen!
In my early teens at Grammar School here in the UK,I took out a book from the school library called 'Man Eaters of Kumaon',by Jim Corbett.This was an account by Jim Corbett of his experiences in the early 1900's as a hunter tracking down on foot, and killing, man eating tigers and leopards which were terrorising the local populations in his home area of Northern India.He was born there in 1875,of English/Irish migrant stock
The book led me to a lifetime of interest in Jim Corbett and his life,and I continued to read his other books.I came to realise that although having been hunting game in the jungles around his home since the age of eight,he later turned more to the camera than the gun, in relationships with the animals around him.
I have just read the biography of his life,and thought that it may be interesting to record here some camera information from that book.
In 1937 Jim purchased his last camera--"which served him well until the end of his life"
"in the summer of that year Jim went to Calcutta specifically to buy the latest equipment.In the Photographic Stores and Agency Co.Ltd he purchased a Leica Model 3,one of the first 35mm cameras.It had a black body with chrome trim and came with a template for cutting the film loading tongue, and was fitted in a three compartment tan leather shoulder case.The lens was a Leitz Elmar 1:3.5 50mm."
Later Jim purchased the Ernst Leitz Wetzlar Hektor 1:1.9 7.3cm telephoto lens,the universal viewfinder and the 5cm expansion ring for close-uo photography.All the equipment was passed to relatives on his death in1955.
In other references in the book it is apparent that at times film was processed on site when he camped out in the jungle.Quite a task I would say.Also from 1926 he owned a Bell and Howell 16mm movie camera,and presumably used it on nature photography.
He became a huge advocate for conservation from the mid 1930's,and is regarded as a hero in India,and a wildlife reserve -- the Jim Corbett National Park ,is named in his honour.
Brian.
The book led me to a lifetime of interest in Jim Corbett and his life,and I continued to read his other books.I came to realise that although having been hunting game in the jungles around his home since the age of eight,he later turned more to the camera than the gun, in relationships with the animals around him.
I have just read the biography of his life,and thought that it may be interesting to record here some camera information from that book.
In 1937 Jim purchased his last camera--"which served him well until the end of his life"
"in the summer of that year Jim went to Calcutta specifically to buy the latest equipment.In the Photographic Stores and Agency Co.Ltd he purchased a Leica Model 3,one of the first 35mm cameras.It had a black body with chrome trim and came with a template for cutting the film loading tongue, and was fitted in a three compartment tan leather shoulder case.The lens was a Leitz Elmar 1:3.5 50mm."
Later Jim purchased the Ernst Leitz Wetzlar Hektor 1:1.9 7.3cm telephoto lens,the universal viewfinder and the 5cm expansion ring for close-uo photography.All the equipment was passed to relatives on his death in1955.
In other references in the book it is apparent that at times film was processed on site when he camped out in the jungle.Quite a task I would say.Also from 1926 he owned a Bell and Howell 16mm movie camera,and presumably used it on nature photography.
He became a huge advocate for conservation from the mid 1930's,and is regarded as a hero in India,and a wildlife reserve -- the Jim Corbett National Park ,is named in his honour.
Brian.