Tom A.'s M2

SimonSawSunlight

SimonSawSunlight

Simon Fabel
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Mar 7, 2008
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I am not quite sure if I shared this story on RFF but since I seem to have overlooked a little detail before, I will do it again.

screenshot-tom-s-m2.jpg


On November 9th of 2016, Tom Abrahamsson sat down with me in his living room in Vancouver and handed me this camera. "I suppose you can have this one." He asked for 500 Canadian Dollars, but I could tell he didn't care about the money either way. I simply had insisted on buying it - or any M2, really. He said that it was rather unusual for him to part with an M2. I told him, we'd make a deal then: "Whenever you happen to need another M2, you can buy this one back for the same price." He just laughed and said: "But that's never going to happen!"
Tom was like a grandfather to me and he believed in me more than I ever did or ever will.
I left for Berlin that same evening. It was the last day we spent together. Tom died almost exactly two months later.
I carry this camera every day, wherever I go, with one to ten spare rolls of film in my pocket.

I wrote this about a year and half ago. Today I casually scrolled through a list of Leica serial numbers and stopped and wondered. I checked and double checked and cross checked with some other lists and databases out there. The camera Tom let me have seems to be from one of two 1965 batches of 100 M2s made in Canada (1132901 - 1133000). I don't know if he knew or did it on purpose, but I wouldn't put it past him.

If these lists are to be trusted, Tom gave me an even bigger piece of himself than I knew, a camera that was a European original turned Canadian, like himself. I like that idea.

PS:
 The camera has been serviced by Leica Germany last month for a couple of minor issues. It is working perfectly again and it's still with me all the time. Most of the pictures I post here and on other platforms at the moment were taken with it.

PPS:
I just remembered: After I gave him the money for the camera, he said something along the lines of it coming in handy for the next camera swap meet, then looked at me and the camera and said:

"That's really a nice strap you know."

"I'll pay you for it."

"Oh, no no no... but it is a good strap."

Then he laughed.
 
That's really beautiful. Something about photography is the people you meet and love, not just the taking of images, but the giving of yourself.
 
Tom and Tuulikki jumped through a few hoops, along with my mother, to ensure I got my M2 Rapidwinder, while I was deployed to Iraq in 2004. I shot about 100 rolls with it on deployment I think. It was sold to a friend after I got back to the states and from there I'm not sure where it went. It is M2 Rapidwinder #003 in case anyone out there has it.
Your story of this M2 is awesome in so many ways. The camera production uniqueness, the Canadian connection, where that camera has been and what light passed it's shutter blinds, but finally who sold it to you. I still have my soft releases that were made by Tom. Just that connection is so special.
Phil Forrest
 
Right camera for right person!

If I ever get another film Leica, it is going to be M2 ELC.
But I'm thinking more and more of letting it all go to get Monochrome...
 
Legend.

I once owned the very first IXMOO Rapidwinder...only 100 ever made. What a brilliant device!
 
I wish I had known him. All the stories and pictures I've seen tell me he was an exceptional person. Not too many around. You're a lucky so and so.
 
Very moving Simon. I get the feeling Tom knew it would be as well used in your hands as an M2 was in his.
 
Tom made mention that he was in need of a battery pack for his Nikon F motor drive, and since I figured I'd never get mine to run again, I sent the one I had rebuilt to him. He seemed pretty happy about it later on when he posted a video of his F running at full speed.

Later on I received a box in the mail from him containing six of his beloved film canisters for Nikon rangefinders and F SLR, along with a print of a photo with his seal stamp on it.

I never asked anything in return for the battery pack, but that's the way Tom was. I didn't know him for long, but he did give me some great advice on what model Nikon rangefinder I should start with, and I always enjoyed his little film and lens tests. He will never be forgotten.

PF
 
Thanks for sharing a story about a wonderful man. Although I only got to share his company a handful of times I still greatly miss his spirit and his generous sharing of knowledge.
 
What a wonderful, affecting story! Thank you for sharing, Simon. You're fortunate to have something of Tom's that's always with you.
 
Don't mean to detract from the wonderful sentiment of this story, but is that a duck in the photo?
 
aizan said:
What a wonderful, affecting story! Thank you for sharing, Simon. You're fortunate to have something of Tom's that's always with you.
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that is very true. i also have some other things of his that i hold very dear, like a black M2 rapidwinder he used for testing. he just gave that thing to me when i had merely asked to try one. i was 23 and couldn't even dream of when i would be able to afford one.

i know for sure that that one was made in canada. ;)

WJJ3 said:
Don't mean to detract from the wonderful sentiment of this story, but is that a duck in the photo?
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i wish they were real, but they are two massive bronze ducks at my grandmother's place. they have hurt many a foot.
 
SimonSawSunlight said:
i wish they were real, but they are two massive bronze ducks at my grandmother's place. they have hurt many a foot.
Click to expand...

Massive bronze objects on the floor definitely sound like a stubbed toe waiting to happen. They are doing a good job of livening up the background though!
 
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