OL17 recovering saga--wanna have a good laugh?

Bill58

Native Texan
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Dec 8, 2004
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A few weeks ago, I decided to recover my $50 QL17 (large size) w/ one of CamerLeather's brown faux Alligator skins ($40). Much to my dismay and pain, the factory cover is "welded" to the body (did they have industrial strength epoxy in those days?).

Halfway thru removing the vinyl from the back the sharp chisel (!) slipped and sliced my index finger, requiring 7 stiches and $30 (socialized Korean medicine). Thereupon, I decided to ship the little jewel to Morgan and let him do the R/R for $28. The packing and postal to him was $44 (no socialized Korean postal). Return postal is $21. Add it up--I can't bear to.

My (Korean) girlfriend sarcastically said my QL17 is becoming an expensive camera. What is she trying to tell me? That I'm stupid? BTW--Koreans throw stuff away that old--they never invest more $$$ into it. They don't understand the "antique or sentimental value" of some old, but quality-made item (maybe they're just smart).
 
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This reminds me of a book I read called "The Gold Plated Porsche" where the author ends up spending more restoring a 1983 Porsche 911 than the car is actually worth.

But like you said, its more about maintaining a well made mechanical device for a different era, than a purely mathematical financial investment decision.
 
In the mid 70s I was at Cp Humphreys when a traffic accident occurred between Osan and Seoul. The surviving GI was first taken to a Korean hospital for emergency care and then shipped to the 121. Either there was a fatality or one was anticipated, so we had to get involved. When I called the 121 they were still talking about the stitching of the patch job done on the GI's abdomen preparatory to his shipment to the 121 hospital. I gathered it was very crude by American standards. My sympathy if you had to submit to Korean care. 😀

EDIT: I have always been nonplussed by the Korean outlook. I don't know about now, but then it wasn't uncommon for them to move every six months since the rent (key money) would typically be raised every six months. Many things did not survive such moves and they seemed OK with that. Most Koreans in my experience would not understand photography as a hobby. A camera was just a tool, and tended to be thought of as an expensive one at that. Why would you want to do anything but snapshoot, and then only on special occassions? More than one camera, more than one lens, what was that all about?
 
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FED up

FED up

Bill58 said:
Much to my dismay and pain, the factory cover is "welded" to the body (did they have industrial strength epoxy in those days?).

WARNING: If you think the GIII is tough, DO NOT go near the vulcanite coverings on some of the FED2'S !!! Especially if you want to remain counting in the decimal system.


ps
I can't understand why he didn't take the back off the camera .....
 
I'm gonna try some non-toxic paint remover made here in Korea. I can't buy Zar here as recommended by Morgan at Cameraleather. BTW- my Cannonet QL17 compacts are of equal difficulty to remove the covering.
 
oftheherd said:
In the mid 70s I was at Cp Humphreys when a traffic accident occurred between Osan and Seoul. The surviving GI was first taken to a Korean hospital for emergency care and then shipped to the 121. Either there was a fatality or one was anticipated, so we had to get involved. When I called the 121 they were still talking about the stitching of the patch job done on the GI's abdomen preparatory to his shipment to the 121 hospital. I gathered it was very crude by American standards. My sympathy if you had to submit to Korean care. 😀

EDIT: I have always been nonplussed by the Korean outlook. I don't know about now, but then it wasn't uncommon for them to move every six months since the rent (key money) would typically be raised every six months. Many things did not survive such moves and they seemed OK with that. Most Koreans in my experience would not understand photography as a hobby. A camera was just a tool, and tended to be thought of as an expensive one at that. Why would you want to do anything but snapshoot, and then only on special occassions? More than one camera, more than one lens, what was that all about?

With all due respect to the Koreans, they aren't much for quality in anything--products or workmanship w/ a few isolated exceptions. Their economic outlook isn't too bright either. thy can't ever beat the Japanese in quality and China is rapidly overtaking them from below.

The biggest joke here, however, is their "university" system. Kids learn zero.
 
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