Ken Ford
Refuses to suffer fools
... if it hadn't gotten wet at some point in the deep past.
I live near Elgin, IL, which was a prosperous river city back in the 1920s and 1930s (think Elgin Watch). Because of this, Elgin has always had a large amount of good old stuff - for a number of years the highest concentration of restored Model A Fords in the US was in Elgin, and Leicas turn up in secondhand stores with some regularity.
I don't get up there too often, but I stopped in at the last local traditional camera shop yesterday. There on the shelf rest a well-worn Leica I(A) with Elmar.
My heart skipped a beat, and I asked to see it. Alas, the poor thing took a serious bath years ago - the lens barrel was covered in what looked like lime deposits and there was other water damage. The shutter still worked after a fashion, though. The VF was remarkably clear and bright.
It wasn't for sale, but I still would have considered it for a restoration project if the price was right.
Some day I'll find a pre-RF Leica to use alongside my Argus A!
I live near Elgin, IL, which was a prosperous river city back in the 1920s and 1930s (think Elgin Watch). Because of this, Elgin has always had a large amount of good old stuff - for a number of years the highest concentration of restored Model A Fords in the US was in Elgin, and Leicas turn up in secondhand stores with some regularity.
I don't get up there too often, but I stopped in at the last local traditional camera shop yesterday. There on the shelf rest a well-worn Leica I(A) with Elmar.
My heart skipped a beat, and I asked to see it. Alas, the poor thing took a serious bath years ago - the lens barrel was covered in what looked like lime deposits and there was other water damage. The shutter still worked after a fashion, though. The VF was remarkably clear and bright.
It wasn't for sale, but I still would have considered it for a restoration project if the price was right.
Some day I'll find a pre-RF Leica to use alongside my Argus A!