Rare rangefinder

[oftheherd]

A rare Kodak: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dl...sPageName=MERC_VI_ReBay_Pr4_PcY_BIN_Stores_IT

Minty (Except it doesn't work)

From where I hear this guy works, I would have expected a better worded description. He says it all (describing all warts) after calling it minty (and I guess he means looks). Just sounded not so cool saying minty but not working. But, maybe an English problem.

Still interesting. I never heard of it. Especially as a Six-20 line. Would love to have a working model (for less considering my budget). 🙁

 

[Pherdinand]

he might have been referring to its flavour.

 

[Trius]

Production was from 1938 to 1944 but only 719 were produced? I know those were war years, but that's only 100 ~ 120 units per year.

Trius

 

[caspert79]

The light meter and shutter aren't even working!

 

[jlw]

Production was from 1938 to 1944 but only 719 were produced? I know those were war years, but that's only 100 ~ 120 units per year.
Trius

It was hellishly expensive when new -- about the same as a new car, IIRC -- so not many were sold.

The significance of the Super Six-20 is that it was THE first production still camera with automatic exposure setting. Going by a writeup I recall from one of Jason Schneider's books, it also was reasonably practical and easy to use. And it's very cool-looking in a '30s-Art-Deco way.

These factors plus the rarity add up to big bucks, even with non-working shutter and meter.

 

[ClaremontPhoto]

Isn't Minty the closet gay in Eastenders?

 

[RML]

$4000?! I didn't know the dollar had depreciated THAT much! I'll give a dollar 50 for it IF it includes shipping. 😛

 

[pshinkaw]

They are rare, and I doubt that any of them actually work anymore. They reputedly had a poorly designed mechanical connection within the automatic exposure system that failed fairly early in their life. Also, they were introduced into a market that probably was not compatible to a high end consumer item. Basically it was a camera for wealthy tourists. How much tourism was going on in 1944?

I thought the going price for one of these was actually closer to $2000 US, but perhaps there has been some currency devaluation since I last looked.

-Paul

 

[oftheherd]

he might have been referring to its flavour.

LOL. Hadn't thought of that.

 

[oftheherd]

It was hellishly expensive when new -- about the same as a new car, IIRC -- so not many were sold.

The significance of the Super Six-20 is that it was THE first production still camera with automatic exposure setting. Going by a writeup I recall from one of Jason Schneider's books, it also was reasonably practical and easy to use. And it's very cool-looking in a '30s-Art-Deco way.

These factors plus the rarity add up to big bucks, even with non-working shutter and meter.

The corporate rangefinder knowledge of this forum never ceases to amaze me! 😱