Post by paulatukcamera on Sept 23, 2005 4:55:32 GMT -5
On another thread (Autumn) I said that I would take some fresh photos for the Fall section on my Retina lllC
So I hope the IDCC members will forgive me for "making the link" and posting this story here as well (This months topic on the IDCC is rare cameras)
This is not about a rare camera, it is about one that is unique, but not in the limited production sense.
As a teenager I bought an Agfa Silette because that was all I could afford - from Bruton the chemist in Addiscombe, near Croydon (yes in those far off days, Chemists kept a good selection of cameras of all prices) and he always let me handle others in his shop. One of which was a Retina lllC. Once I picked it up, I knew that one day I would love to own one.
Fast forward fifteen years - Children and a large mortgage meant that in the 1970s, money was pretty tight. So when I saw a Retina llc (small "c") in the local papers cheaply, I was off like a bat out of hell! Nothing ever arrives singly does it? In a couple of months, an advert in Exchange and Mart led me to the East End and a lllc (Small C). Again, only a small amount of money changed hands - probably £20. Neither camera was mint - reasonable, but nothing special. I fully intended to sell the llc and restore the exchequer to balance.
Then a friend came along - you do hate them sometimes! I proudly showed him my purchase and explained that one day, when I could afford it, I would like a nice lllC (Large C). He said "do you know I'm certain I saw one of those in a camera shop on Waterloo station". I asked him to get details and when I heard what he had to say, just had to go and see it.
What he had related to me was true, the dealer (LCE?) had, to all intents and purposes a brand new - totally unmarked - lllC with Heligon lens. The snag? Well, a large one, it was a £140 - and in the early 70s that was a great deal of money - far, far more than I could afford, without starving the children!
I reluctantly went away. Three months later I went back. Would he reduce the price? No! Take mine in part exchange No! Same tale several months later. I then put it to the back of my mind until this friend (about a year later) said "he'd still got it - not in the window now, but on a back shelf".
Once more I took the train to Waterloo, but this time I had a plan. "What about my two Retinas for that lllC, after all, no one else is interested in it as its too expensive?" He agreed that it was too dear, but he said it was so nice that "I gave the old gentleman what he wanted for it as I thought a collector would appreciate the condition". After a lot of discussion, I thought I'd lost it, but in the end he did a quick phone call to somebody and said "OK, its yours, but you do drive a hard bargain!"
So that's how I ended up with a brand new Retina lllC in 1974 for £40! I still have it, but you can't let a camera as nice as that sit on a shelf. until fairly recently, I always took it holiday but though it is no longer absolutely mint, it still has pride of place on my shelf
And you know what, my son said to me last year "I wouldn't give you houseroom for all your collection of cameras except for that one" - says he pointing at the Retina. That's why I bought a Retina lllC for my son's Xmas present.
I have bought rarer cameras, but that Retina is the only one I would keep, even if all the others had to be sold.
Paul
Added a picture to show my "little treasure"
Fullsize picture here:
(www.ukcamera.com/collect/images/originalretina.jpg
So I hope the IDCC members will forgive me for "making the link" and posting this story here as well (This months topic on the IDCC is rare cameras)
This is not about a rare camera, it is about one that is unique, but not in the limited production sense.
As a teenager I bought an Agfa Silette because that was all I could afford - from Bruton the chemist in Addiscombe, near Croydon (yes in those far off days, Chemists kept a good selection of cameras of all prices) and he always let me handle others in his shop. One of which was a Retina lllC. Once I picked it up, I knew that one day I would love to own one.
Fast forward fifteen years - Children and a large mortgage meant that in the 1970s, money was pretty tight. So when I saw a Retina llc (small "c") in the local papers cheaply, I was off like a bat out of hell! Nothing ever arrives singly does it? In a couple of months, an advert in Exchange and Mart led me to the East End and a lllc (Small C). Again, only a small amount of money changed hands - probably £20. Neither camera was mint - reasonable, but nothing special. I fully intended to sell the llc and restore the exchequer to balance.
Then a friend came along - you do hate them sometimes! I proudly showed him my purchase and explained that one day, when I could afford it, I would like a nice lllC (Large C). He said "do you know I'm certain I saw one of those in a camera shop on Waterloo station". I asked him to get details and when I heard what he had to say, just had to go and see it.
What he had related to me was true, the dealer (LCE?) had, to all intents and purposes a brand new - totally unmarked - lllC with Heligon lens. The snag? Well, a large one, it was a £140 - and in the early 70s that was a great deal of money - far, far more than I could afford, without starving the children!
I reluctantly went away. Three months later I went back. Would he reduce the price? No! Take mine in part exchange No! Same tale several months later. I then put it to the back of my mind until this friend (about a year later) said "he'd still got it - not in the window now, but on a back shelf".
Once more I took the train to Waterloo, but this time I had a plan. "What about my two Retinas for that lllC, after all, no one else is interested in it as its too expensive?" He agreed that it was too dear, but he said it was so nice that "I gave the old gentleman what he wanted for it as I thought a collector would appreciate the condition". After a lot of discussion, I thought I'd lost it, but in the end he did a quick phone call to somebody and said "OK, its yours, but you do drive a hard bargain!"
So that's how I ended up with a brand new Retina lllC in 1974 for £40! I still have it, but you can't let a camera as nice as that sit on a shelf. until fairly recently, I always took it holiday but though it is no longer absolutely mint, it still has pride of place on my shelf
And you know what, my son said to me last year "I wouldn't give you houseroom for all your collection of cameras except for that one" - says he pointing at the Retina. That's why I bought a Retina lllC for my son's Xmas present.
I have bought rarer cameras, but that Retina is the only one I would keep, even if all the others had to be sold.
Paul
Added a picture to show my "little treasure"
Fullsize picture here:
(www.ukcamera.com/collect/images/originalretina.jpg