Tower 24 with Takamar lens

colyn

colyn

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I have the chance to buy a Tower 24 camera with Takamar lens. The curtains need replacement and a complete CLA which I can do and was wondering what a fair price would be to pay. :(
 
The Tower 24 was a rebadged Asahiflex IIB sold with a 2.4 lens. There are 2 versions of the camera. The normal ones have a plain front. Toward the end of the production, they started to "use up" some of the Asahiflex IIA bodies and but a blank over the slow speed dial hole. These are considered the least common of the Asahiflex's and are worth a bit more.

As to value, difficult to say. The Asahiflex's tend to be a bit of of a collector's market. A near mint, fully working one should reach about $250. About a year ago, I got a fully working "user" one for about $100.
It would have needed a CLA to get the shutter speeds acurate but it did have complete curtains etc. It has been used as a donor to refurbish 3 other asahiflex's but the main body and shutter are good so if you go ahead and need parts let me know.

Kim
 
Kim Coxon said:
The Tower 24 was a rebadged Asahiflex IIB sold with a 2.4 lens. There are 2 versions of the camera. The normal ones have a plain front. Toward the end of the production, they started to "use up" some of the Asahiflex IIA bodies and but a blank over the slow speed dial hole. These are considered the least common of the Asahiflex's and are worth a bit more.

As to value, difficult to say. The Asahiflex's tend to be a bit of of a collector's market. A near mint, fully working one should reach about $250. About a year ago, I got a fully working "user" one for about $100.
It would have needed a CLA to get the shutter speeds acurate but it did have complete curtains etc. It has been used as a donor to refurbish 3 other asahiflex's but the main body and shutter are good so if you go ahead and need parts let me know.

Kim
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Thanks..

After finally pinning the seller down to a price I had to decline. He wanted $2500 for it.. :eek:
 
In that case, anybody want to sawp? All fully working and CLA'd with legendary Pentax glass. Micgt consider a Leica MP and 50 lux asph. :D :D :D

Kim
 

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PS they are almost rangefinders. Focussing via pentaprism but easier to shot with the direct finder. A bit like the T really.

Kim
 
I just need a freaking M42 SLR. I'll take any body with a mechanical shutter at this point, meter function optional.

That is just...wow. Yeah.
 
Stephanie Brim said:
You have to be kidding.
Click to expand...

That's nothing compared to the $10,250.00 Mamiya C330 I saw at a Dallas antique mall a few weeks back. The same vendor also had a Argus "brick" for $1000.

The Tower seller says he was told the camera was extremely rare with less than 50 known to exists. If I had tried to tell him it is not true he probably would have said I was trying to rip him off so I said "thanks but no thanks" and went on my way.
 
Kim Coxon said:
PS they are almost rangefinders. Focussing via pentaprism but easier to shot with the direct finder. A bit like the T really.

Kim
Click to expand...

I liked the way the camera felt in my hand and would have bought it if the price had been reasonable since I could fix it.
 
It's OK Steph, you're safe. The Flex's are M37 thread not M42. ;)

Kim

Stephanie Brim said:
I just need a freaking M42 SLR. I'll take any body with a mechanical shutter at this point, meter function optional.

That is just...wow. Yeah.
Click to expand...
 
The 24 WITH the blanked slow speed dial is acknowleged as the least common of the IIB's but only 50 - Nah! Still if he keeps spreading that I may just get an MP for a pristine fully working one. :)

Kim

colyn said:
The Tower seller says he was told the camera was extremely rare with less than 50 known to exists. If I had tried to tell him it is not true he probably would have said I was trying to rip him off so I said "thanks but no thanks" and went on my way.
Click to expand...
 
Stephanie Brim said:
I just need a freaking M42 SLR. I'll take any body with a mechanical shutter at this point, meter function optional.
Click to expand...

Surely there's no shortage of cameras that fit that bill? Any camera store that sells any used equipment must have at least one kicking around . . . not to mention Evilbay and the like.

What's the project?
 
Kim Coxon said:
The 24 WITH the blanked slow speed dial is acknowleged as the least common of the IIB's but only 50 - Nah! Still if he keeps spreading that I may just get an MP for a pristine fully working one. :)

Kim
Click to expand...

I'm buying the black MP with Summicron. I put up money to hold the only black version in stock at the store till my ESOP check gets here in the next week or 2. Can't wait to get it... :p
 
Andrew Sowerby said:
Surely there's no shortage of cameras that fit that bill? Any camera store that sells any used equipment must have at least one kicking around . . . not to mention Evilbay and the like.

What's the project?
Click to expand...

My food blog. Photos of the foods that I'm going to be writing recipes for. Photos of the steps in the recipe. Photos of ingredients for the food that I make. Etc.

I can't afford a digital P&S for this nor do I want the crappy quality I'd get from them as I plan to eventually print some of the photos...so film SLR it is. The M42 bodies are known to be built like tanks, mechanically sound (most of the time), and the lens selection is mindboggling. ;) I figure it's the best way to go.
 
Gee, not only did I buy a C330 outfit for $250, I then had another one given to me, plus accessories, and a bunch of lenses as well.
 
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