What my mother found in her basement

[MelanieC]

I'm home in NoVA helping my mother throw things away before she moves out of my childhood home.

This is what Mom found locked in one of my father's old file cabinets. (The M3 pictured is, of course, my dad's camera that I have been using for the past year.)

I also have the manuals in English, but found those months ago. My mother very nearly gave the cabinet away without checking the locked bottom drawer, but was lucky enough to find the key before the person arrived to take the cabinet away.

 

[MelanieC]

and more

and more

The last few photos -- the body cap was screwed into the base of the bubble. There is no rear cap for the lens. Would it have come with one?

 

[dcsang]

Cool..
Mint boxes for your M3 and cron 🙂

Lucky you 🙂

Dave

 

[harmsr]

Melanie,

Congrats on the cool find. Glad to see that you have the complete set of your father's camera and the chance to enjoy it.

Best,

Ray

 

[dexdog]

cool find, and a nice legacy of your father. I have a couple of old cameras from my late father. Don't use them much, but nice to have around.

 

[Film dino]

Very nice indeed! Congratulations!

 

[RObert Budding]

I'm grateful that my father is still doing well at age 80. And I'm lucky to have a few nice items that belonged to my Grandfather - his slide rule and a jacket that I still wear once in a while. But no Leica, unfortunateley!

 

[ChrisN]

The last few photos -- the body cap was screwed into the base of the bubble. There is no rear cap for the lens. Would it have come with one?

Great find!

I think the base of the bubble is the rear cap for the lens.

 

[rover]

That is a great piece of your personal history Mel, very nice.

I have my Minolta SRTs from the 1970s that my father bought and started me on this camera kick when I was a kid. I am pretty proud of them, as I am sure you are of your little collection there.

 

[Flyfisher Tom]

She doesn't have any other cabinets she's throwing away, does she 😉

Congrats on the find, and the connection to your dad.

Good luck with your mom's move 🙂

 

[sgy1962]

My brother inherited my grandmother's M3 and lenses which accompanied her on her many travels around the world. In the mid-80's, he traded it in on an R4 and lenses when he traveled to Africa. Grrrrrrr.

 

[Magus]

Post deleted by posters request

 

[Rich Silfver]

Magus, I had the same reaction when I saw them. I'm always impressed/surprised how boxes like that can survive 40+ years - and in that condition.

 

[kbg32]

Melanie,

The bubble would have been the lens rear cap, hence no separate cap.

 

[MelanieC]

Hi guys,

Yup, the lens screws into the back of the bubble (the body cap is there right now since the lens is on the camera) but I was hoping there was a separate lens cap since I know they exist. I guess I shouldn't complain.

Now the challenge is to get this stuff to San Francisco without squishing the box. I figure if my dad could haul this stuff around through various moves since 1965 without destroying the boxes it should be possible.

 

[rover]

mail it home.

 

[NIKON KIU]

Hi Melanie,
so you are in our neck of woods...may be we should get together for a shootout.
Kiu

 

[MelanieC]

Hey Kiu,

I would love to, but am probably going to be running around all weekend helping my mother move and throw away stuff. I'll be in NoVA until Tues AM.

 

[Magus]

Post deleted by posters request

 

[terrafirmanada]

Congratulations, that is a heartwarming tale. I don't think I've seen the case on your M3 before; it looks good. I got the same one in brown for mine. They do add to the feel. Safe travel for your retun with the boxes..