Post by herron on Nov 30, 2005 13:08:15 GMT -5
A gentleman by the name of Peter Naylor actually began this thread on the IDCC (Internet Directory of Camera Collectors), another forum I participate in, so I can’t take credit for it.
But I’ve added a couple of thoughts of my own (OK, several) to his list, and thought it might be fun to start a conversation here about 35mm Collectability Milestones. While there is a bit of fact to all of it, it’s really all in fun, so have a good time with it!
----------------------------
* 1913 - Oscar Barnack produces a one-off 35mm lunchtime-project camera, which he shows to his boss Herr Ernst Leitz. "Very clever," says Ernst, "I'll think about it." However, a certain well-documented global disagreement over European real estate boundaries ensues and the project is shelved....
* 1925 - Oscar finally manages to get his boss's attention again, and this time Herr Leitz goes along with the idea, leading to the first production Leica camera going on sale. Bank managers around the world rub their hands with glee at the prospect of improved loan business. Loud snorts of indignation are heard from Ensign HQ in London..."dang things will never catch on, old chap, what?"
* 1932 - Not to be outdone in the $$$ stakes, Zeiss produces an even more expensive rival to the Leica - the Contax. Users acquire strange wrist contortions trying to focus it. Bank managers also go into contortions again, but over prospects of even better loan business.
* 1934 - Kodak introduces the first reasonably-priced 35mm with their Retina, coinciding with the introduction of the Kodak Daylight Loading Cartridge. Find a need and fill it ....
* 1934 - Just to disprove the theory that they can't ever think of anything new, those cunning Soviets produce the first Leica Copy with their FED-1, and they even get former teenage street-kids to make it, another first! Wow - who said Communism would never work?
* 1936 - Ihagee brings out the Kine Exakta, the first "modern" style 35mm reflex system camera. 98% of folks around the world rue the fact that they're right-handed and 100% are about to learn just how many expensive bits and bobs one camera can require.
* 1936 - In total contrast, the Argus Model A goes on sale at the corner drugstore for just $10, with its only accessories (presumably) a thick milkshake and a donut.
* 1936 - AGFA decides to go their own Bargain Basement 35mm route and introduces the first Karat, with its unique film winding system. "If push gets to shove....."
* 1937 - The Japanese also get into the Leica Copy Game with the first Canon Hansa. Collectors worldwide now have something to keep themselves occupied with in their spare time for years.
* 1948 - Seichi Mamiya begins work on the prototype of his first 35mm rangefinder, the Mamiya 35-I. In that same watershed year, Mr. and Mrs. Herron unite to deliver their first child, Ronald. So, now you know why he finds Mamiya 35mm’s so interesting....
* 1949 - Ilford finally brings out the first British 35mm, the Ilford Advocate, probably the only camera ever to come in just a cream color (colour, to our UK friends). Henry Ford gnashes his teeth and is heard to grumble "now why didn't I think of that ......"
* 1949 - the East German offshoot of Zeiss produces the first 35mm SLR with a pentaprism, but decides to confuse collectors by reusing that familiar word "Contax."
* 1951 - Asahi produces the first Japanese SLR, but it's really more like an up-market Praktica than an Exakta or Contax. They will get it right eventually though.....
* 1954 - Asahi incorporates a noisy instant-return mirror feature in their Asahiflex, so film sales start dropping as pictures of neighbor's cats decline.
* 1955 - Mr. Ogihara-san gets it almost right and, at last, the Japanese produce their first modern-style 35mm SLR in the Orion Phoenix. It has to be hastily renamed "Miranda" because somebody else has already cornered that “Phoenix” tag....
* 1957 - Mamiya introduces the first long-run production 35mm camera with an interchangeable film back – the Mamiya Magazine 35. The future Mrs. Ron Herron groans at the future prospect of "More Bloody Cameras To Collect Dust" – as she heads to her second grade lunchroom....
* 1957 - Asahi finally does get it right, this time with the first Asahi Pentax.
* 1959 - AGFA produces the Optima, the World's First Fully-Automatic 35mm camera. The age of "Press Here, Stupid" has finally arrived. Collectors around the world are apparently all asleep, dreaming of acquiring that other watershed from 1959....
* 1959 - Nikon introduces the Nikon F. Press photographers sign up for Keep-Fit classes to be able to run around carrying them, dodging bullets, bank managers and irate deadline editors alike....
* 1959 - Mamiya introduces their Mamiya Ruby, the style format for several more small Mamiya 35mm rangefinders. Ron Herron’s palms begin to sweat while holding his Brownie Hawkeye on the class field trip...No one else notices.
* 1961 - In February, Mamiya finally introduces its first 35mm SLR, the Mamiya Prismat. Although they were in the forefront of SLR design, no one knew it, because it took them more than 10 years to get the Prismat into production....
* 1962 - Nikon introduces the Photomic Head meter for the Nikon F. Press photographers sign for more Keep-Fit classes.
* 1963 - Topcon takes SLR design to the highest level, with the first TTL design in the RE Super, aka Super D in the USA, just to be different.
* 1966 - Shelving his rangefinders, Ron Herron buys his first 35mm SLR, a used Voigtlander Bessamatic. Mamiya introduces its TL series SLR’s the same year. The camera-collecting world goes on stand-by notice....
* 1968 - In July (or was it October?), R. Herron trades his used Bessamatic for a new Mamiya 1000 DTL (along with some cash, and a player to be named later)....the Detroit Tigers win baseball's World Series...first time since 1945 (and definitely in October)!
* 1970 - The future Mrs. Herron becomes the official Mrs. Herron in June. She refuses to allow Ron to take the wedding pictures with his Mamiya SLR, and hires a professional photographer.
* 1971 - Mamiya introduces its Auto XTL, at the time arguably the most technologically advanced 35mm SLR in the world. Ron Herron takes a second job, hoping to be able to trade up from his 1000 DTL, and also to prepare for the birth of his first son the following spring...no trade, but birth successful!
* 1972 - First son born in March...Mamiya probably announced something (and I'm sure some of the other camera manufacturers did), but it wasn't noticed much in the Herron household!
* 1974 - The Mamiya SX series is introduced, returning to the 42mm threaded lens mount format, which makes R. Herron very happy when he sees all the TL-series lenses he has invested in... Biggest news is Herron son number two arriving in December!
* 1978 - Mamiya intoduces its new, lightweight Mamiya NC1000. R. Herron buys one, even though son number three has just been born!
* 1984 - The good news (since I am from SE MIchigan): the Detroit Tigers win baseball's World Series again...the bad news: Mamiya Camera Co. nearly goes broke following the bankruptcy of its main distributor, Osawa...Decides to cease production of its 35mm line and concentrate on medium-format professional camera equipment. Mrs. Herron breathes large, if temporary, sigh of relief (not at all related to baseball)....
* 1994 - USA hosts soccer's World Cup, the single most watched sporting event on the planet!....this has nothing to do with cameras, but I'm a fan (and former player, coach and FIFA ref)!
* 1995 - AuctionWeb, the predecessor to eBay, is started by Pierre Omidyar, who said he wanted to see how the Web might be used for business...when what he was really trying to do is help his girlfriend, Pam, find a way to collect and trade Pez dispensers beyond the local area....(say, did she ever become Mrs. Omidyar?)
* 1996 - Camera collectors discover eBay and began uncontrollable drooling....
* 1997 - Mrs. Herron discovers cameras overflowing from a former bedroom, and realizes her husband’s camera-collecting habit has grown to dangerous proportions....
* 2001 – Shortly after its creation, Mamiya Co. recognizes mamiya35collectors.com as a site for information about its old line of cameras…Mr. Herron smiles contentedly, while Mrs. Herron just hangs her head and drops off yet another Priority Mail package....
;D
But I’ve added a couple of thoughts of my own (OK, several) to his list, and thought it might be fun to start a conversation here about 35mm Collectability Milestones. While there is a bit of fact to all of it, it’s really all in fun, so have a good time with it!
----------------------------
* 1913 - Oscar Barnack produces a one-off 35mm lunchtime-project camera, which he shows to his boss Herr Ernst Leitz. "Very clever," says Ernst, "I'll think about it." However, a certain well-documented global disagreement over European real estate boundaries ensues and the project is shelved....
* 1925 - Oscar finally manages to get his boss's attention again, and this time Herr Leitz goes along with the idea, leading to the first production Leica camera going on sale. Bank managers around the world rub their hands with glee at the prospect of improved loan business. Loud snorts of indignation are heard from Ensign HQ in London..."dang things will never catch on, old chap, what?"
* 1932 - Not to be outdone in the $$$ stakes, Zeiss produces an even more expensive rival to the Leica - the Contax. Users acquire strange wrist contortions trying to focus it. Bank managers also go into contortions again, but over prospects of even better loan business.
* 1934 - Kodak introduces the first reasonably-priced 35mm with their Retina, coinciding with the introduction of the Kodak Daylight Loading Cartridge. Find a need and fill it ....
* 1934 - Just to disprove the theory that they can't ever think of anything new, those cunning Soviets produce the first Leica Copy with their FED-1, and they even get former teenage street-kids to make it, another first! Wow - who said Communism would never work?
* 1936 - Ihagee brings out the Kine Exakta, the first "modern" style 35mm reflex system camera. 98% of folks around the world rue the fact that they're right-handed and 100% are about to learn just how many expensive bits and bobs one camera can require.
* 1936 - In total contrast, the Argus Model A goes on sale at the corner drugstore for just $10, with its only accessories (presumably) a thick milkshake and a donut.
* 1936 - AGFA decides to go their own Bargain Basement 35mm route and introduces the first Karat, with its unique film winding system. "If push gets to shove....."
* 1937 - The Japanese also get into the Leica Copy Game with the first Canon Hansa. Collectors worldwide now have something to keep themselves occupied with in their spare time for years.
* 1948 - Seichi Mamiya begins work on the prototype of his first 35mm rangefinder, the Mamiya 35-I. In that same watershed year, Mr. and Mrs. Herron unite to deliver their first child, Ronald. So, now you know why he finds Mamiya 35mm’s so interesting....
* 1949 - Ilford finally brings out the first British 35mm, the Ilford Advocate, probably the only camera ever to come in just a cream color (colour, to our UK friends). Henry Ford gnashes his teeth and is heard to grumble "now why didn't I think of that ......"
* 1949 - the East German offshoot of Zeiss produces the first 35mm SLR with a pentaprism, but decides to confuse collectors by reusing that familiar word "Contax."
* 1951 - Asahi produces the first Japanese SLR, but it's really more like an up-market Praktica than an Exakta or Contax. They will get it right eventually though.....
* 1954 - Asahi incorporates a noisy instant-return mirror feature in their Asahiflex, so film sales start dropping as pictures of neighbor's cats decline.
* 1955 - Mr. Ogihara-san gets it almost right and, at last, the Japanese produce their first modern-style 35mm SLR in the Orion Phoenix. It has to be hastily renamed "Miranda" because somebody else has already cornered that “Phoenix” tag....
* 1957 - Mamiya introduces the first long-run production 35mm camera with an interchangeable film back – the Mamiya Magazine 35. The future Mrs. Ron Herron groans at the future prospect of "More Bloody Cameras To Collect Dust" – as she heads to her second grade lunchroom....
* 1957 - Asahi finally does get it right, this time with the first Asahi Pentax.
* 1959 - AGFA produces the Optima, the World's First Fully-Automatic 35mm camera. The age of "Press Here, Stupid" has finally arrived. Collectors around the world are apparently all asleep, dreaming of acquiring that other watershed from 1959....
* 1959 - Nikon introduces the Nikon F. Press photographers sign up for Keep-Fit classes to be able to run around carrying them, dodging bullets, bank managers and irate deadline editors alike....
* 1959 - Mamiya introduces their Mamiya Ruby, the style format for several more small Mamiya 35mm rangefinders. Ron Herron’s palms begin to sweat while holding his Brownie Hawkeye on the class field trip...No one else notices.
* 1961 - In February, Mamiya finally introduces its first 35mm SLR, the Mamiya Prismat. Although they were in the forefront of SLR design, no one knew it, because it took them more than 10 years to get the Prismat into production....
* 1962 - Nikon introduces the Photomic Head meter for the Nikon F. Press photographers sign for more Keep-Fit classes.
* 1963 - Topcon takes SLR design to the highest level, with the first TTL design in the RE Super, aka Super D in the USA, just to be different.
* 1966 - Shelving his rangefinders, Ron Herron buys his first 35mm SLR, a used Voigtlander Bessamatic. Mamiya introduces its TL series SLR’s the same year. The camera-collecting world goes on stand-by notice....
* 1968 - In July (or was it October?), R. Herron trades his used Bessamatic for a new Mamiya 1000 DTL (along with some cash, and a player to be named later)....the Detroit Tigers win baseball's World Series...first time since 1945 (and definitely in October)!
* 1970 - The future Mrs. Herron becomes the official Mrs. Herron in June. She refuses to allow Ron to take the wedding pictures with his Mamiya SLR, and hires a professional photographer.
* 1971 - Mamiya introduces its Auto XTL, at the time arguably the most technologically advanced 35mm SLR in the world. Ron Herron takes a second job, hoping to be able to trade up from his 1000 DTL, and also to prepare for the birth of his first son the following spring...no trade, but birth successful!
* 1972 - First son born in March...Mamiya probably announced something (and I'm sure some of the other camera manufacturers did), but it wasn't noticed much in the Herron household!
* 1974 - The Mamiya SX series is introduced, returning to the 42mm threaded lens mount format, which makes R. Herron very happy when he sees all the TL-series lenses he has invested in... Biggest news is Herron son number two arriving in December!
* 1978 - Mamiya intoduces its new, lightweight Mamiya NC1000. R. Herron buys one, even though son number three has just been born!
* 1984 - The good news (since I am from SE MIchigan): the Detroit Tigers win baseball's World Series again...the bad news: Mamiya Camera Co. nearly goes broke following the bankruptcy of its main distributor, Osawa...Decides to cease production of its 35mm line and concentrate on medium-format professional camera equipment. Mrs. Herron breathes large, if temporary, sigh of relief (not at all related to baseball)....
* 1994 - USA hosts soccer's World Cup, the single most watched sporting event on the planet!....this has nothing to do with cameras, but I'm a fan (and former player, coach and FIFA ref)!
* 1995 - AuctionWeb, the predecessor to eBay, is started by Pierre Omidyar, who said he wanted to see how the Web might be used for business...when what he was really trying to do is help his girlfriend, Pam, find a way to collect and trade Pez dispensers beyond the local area....(say, did she ever become Mrs. Omidyar?)
* 1996 - Camera collectors discover eBay and began uncontrollable drooling....
* 1997 - Mrs. Herron discovers cameras overflowing from a former bedroom, and realizes her husband’s camera-collecting habit has grown to dangerous proportions....
* 2001 – Shortly after its creation, Mamiya Co. recognizes mamiya35collectors.com as a site for information about its old line of cameras…Mr. Herron smiles contentedly, while Mrs. Herron just hangs her head and drops off yet another Priority Mail package....
;D
