Post by nikkortorokkor on Jun 20, 2008 18:56:29 GMT -5
Thanks, Peter. I have "discovered" another museum near to Shanghai, in Guangzhou. This is China's entrepreneurial heartland. It has a web presence, including huge jpegs that almost tanked my computer. I'll post the link when I've got time to let the computer chug along.
I've been doing some digging on Chinese language sites, including the Chinese equivalent of out own Classic Collector board. I'm collating a story about the wonderful Red Flag 20, inspired by the Leica M3. I'll never get to own one while my wife is looking (if you could successfully "fake" a Red Flag 20 from a Leica M3 or M4 you'd make a handsome profit - fortunately for Leitz fans and Chinese camera fans, this would be almost impossible to achieve), but the story is fascinating.
When I'm done, I'll stick it on a blog and post a link.
Mistakes: The Gold Phenix 205 pictured above was to celebrate the repatriation of Honk Kong into China in 1997, not the 50th Anniversary of the Revolution. That's the Hong Kong seal beside the viewfinder, with the Chinese flag opposite. Loyal Brits can throw eggs at the screen if they so wish.
China, did not, as far as I've found so far, attempt a Contax copy. Their manufacturing ability was pretty basic for a long time, a far cry from now. Interestingly, one Chinese collector says the best stuff in his collection is unmarked production destined for the military. Communism at its finest. Now there are "Millionaire Fairs" in Shanghai, along with Leica stockists whose inventory would make your eyes water (Shanghai is now the world's biggest Rolls Royce Market). I'm not sure which state of affairs is worse!
I've been doing some digging on Chinese language sites, including the Chinese equivalent of out own Classic Collector board. I'm collating a story about the wonderful Red Flag 20, inspired by the Leica M3. I'll never get to own one while my wife is looking (if you could successfully "fake" a Red Flag 20 from a Leica M3 or M4 you'd make a handsome profit - fortunately for Leitz fans and Chinese camera fans, this would be almost impossible to achieve), but the story is fascinating.
When I'm done, I'll stick it on a blog and post a link.
Mistakes: The Gold Phenix 205 pictured above was to celebrate the repatriation of Honk Kong into China in 1997, not the 50th Anniversary of the Revolution. That's the Hong Kong seal beside the viewfinder, with the Chinese flag opposite. Loyal Brits can throw eggs at the screen if they so wish.
China, did not, as far as I've found so far, attempt a Contax copy. Their manufacturing ability was pretty basic for a long time, a far cry from now. Interestingly, one Chinese collector says the best stuff in his collection is unmarked production destined for the military. Communism at its finest. Now there are "Millionaire Fairs" in Shanghai, along with Leica stockists whose inventory would make your eyes water (Shanghai is now the world's biggest Rolls Royce Market). I'm not sure which state of affairs is worse!