colyn
ישו משיח
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. 🙁
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
Stephanie Brim said:You have to be kidding.
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
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.
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.
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.
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
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?