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Post by genazzano on Apr 15, 2013 2:31:57 GMT -5
When it came time to head for the War Memorial stadium in Buffalo to cover the Bills' game, I grabbed for the black Nikon F, if it was still there. Otherwise I would be forced to use the little H1A Pentax. When I had the black F, I felt like a pro. Jeeez I loved that camera.
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Post by genazzano on Apr 14, 2013 16:12:55 GMT -5
"Expending scarce financial resources gathering up large numbers of pieces of obsolete equipment doesn't look like especially rational behaviour to me..." Hmmm... Never thought of it like that. "Jeeeez, lighten up" (quote from Wife).
Thanks everyone. I feel better now. Obsessive subculture doesn't sound that bad. Ciao!
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Post by genazzano on Apr 14, 2013 2:10:28 GMT -5
I won't name anyone nor any sites, but frankly I'm irritated when I see comments online that camera collectors belong to some obsessive subculture. I object to any negative terms being used when describing others. I cannot adequately explain the fascination that Others and I share regarding old cameras. I realize I must be in a bad mood or something, or just getting curmudgeonly in my advanced age.
Collectors, for the most part, and IMO, preserve photographic technology. Cameras of the passed decades hold an interest for me that goes from design, history, stories of those who started companies and struggled to keep them afloat. Many made small but clear contributions to photography in the form of their cameras, some short lived, and others going on to influence many other camera designs.
Many prefer to shoot with the old cameras and gaze at their images while the camera itself remains in the background. All of these people share something and contribute to preservation of history.
None the less, I wonder why collectors seem to catch so much crap these days. We are not a bunch of kids on-line and flaming one another. There is often a common thread that I read: "Am I the only one?" My reply is simply a "No".
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Post by genazzano on Apr 14, 2013 1:35:20 GMT -5
Thanks Stephen. Getting these stories straight is important and I saw several sites that closely linked the Kowa with previous models from Ciro and Graflex. Ciao! David
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Post by genazzano on Apr 14, 2013 1:32:11 GMT -5
A lovely clean design. I have no Konica's but I'm looking after seeing this one. Ciao! David
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Post by genazzano on Apr 12, 2013 2:21:19 GMT -5
Stephen, Permit me to disagree with you regarding the Ciro-Graflex not being related to the Kowa. As I see the cameras that are in our collection, the Ciro is clearly the antecedent to the Graphic 35 which then evolved further into the latter versions of the Century 35, the Century 35A, the Kowa 35N and Century "NE" where the body shape became angular. These cameras occupied a place in the Graflex product line which became increasingly simplified eliminating the complex features of the first Graphic 35 proceeding to the Century 35A which had none of them beyond the very nice viewfinder.
The Century 35A with the Graflex logo was also sold as the Kowa 35N. Beyond this point, the cameras diverge in development and marketing and the relationships fade out. Graflex made a valiant effort to find a niche for the old Ciro (Perfex) but it was generally unsuccessful. Kowa went on with moderate success but Graflex's market in the USA remained in the area of larger professional cameras.
The designers and engineers involved in the story go all the way back to the original Perfex in 1938 which went to market long before it had been developed into a commercial product. It was the first American to have a focal plane shutter, though. They then bumbled on through a number of models during WWII (my favorite is the "22"), but then Ciro stepped in.
It's important for me to get this story straight, given the fact that things get set in stone when on the internet. Tell me again how the Kowa is unrelated to the Ciro, please.
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Post by genazzano on Apr 11, 2013 0:48:08 GMT -5
If there was one thing I miss here, regarding cameras anyway, is the ability to find shops with old stuff... furniture, old cameras, books, etc etc in America. They pop up every once in a while here but go out of business soon. I toyed with the idea of renting a little shop in our ancient town to sell (i.e. display) vintage cameras. We have a great castle across the piazza with hundreds of rooms largely empty and I then thought about a little museum of photographic technology (i.e. cameras). Maybe that is still a viable concept. Don't know. What else can you do with all the cameras, Stephen?
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Post by genazzano on Apr 11, 2013 0:37:23 GMT -5
When I was with OSU I lived in Delaware. I believe that Ciro was located somewhere in that little town but don't know where. Was Kowa the last to market an evolution of this basic design from the 1930's?
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Post by genazzano on Apr 11, 2013 0:34:24 GMT -5
I wish I had taken some pics of my camera when it arrived. Corroded, dirty, greasy, depressing. Leatherette was moldy and falling off. It hung over the bin for a moment before I decided to see what was beneath the dirt. Chrome that was so thick it was still bright and shiny. Recovered it with leather from my wife's old purse. Never loaded it but at least it is preserved for someone in the future. That's good enough for now.
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Post by genazzano on Apr 10, 2013 15:58:00 GMT -5
I see a lot of red ones. Go figure. Over a decade I have found 2 that weren't outrageously over priced. This is the Dixi which is touted as being rare, maybe so. Found the page from my old web site on these cameras. See: sites.google.com/site/ldtomei/ruberg&renner
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Post by genazzano on Apr 10, 2013 8:48:37 GMT -5
Nice camera. I never saw one of the later Kowa's. I have a few of the previous generations back to the Perfexes, Ciro and Graphlex Ciro. I always thought it was an interesting evolution. David
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Post by genazzano on Apr 9, 2013 10:47:25 GMT -5
Any new information on this camera show up?
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Post by genazzano on Apr 9, 2013 4:58:39 GMT -5
The Comet II: Lots of shiny metal and new leather, but I'm afraid not much else.
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Post by genazzano on Apr 8, 2013 9:26:19 GMT -5
Frankly, during this time of chemo, there is nothing that picks me up better than new cameras - cleaning, fixing, and shooting. This is my "new" c1932 Ruberg from Ruberg & Renner. The Ruberg model is normally a brilliant marbleized red, but this one is black and really uncommon. Now to find the film somewhere in the freezer. Just thought I'd share. Ciao! David Genazzano, Roma
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Post by genazzano on Apr 7, 2013 6:41:27 GMT -5
Complimenti... David
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