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Post by dee on Jul 29, 2012 16:58:22 GMT -5
Just curious - I am awaiting a 1930s Rat Contax II .
There is more brass than chrome - Contax chrome was so thin .
I guess I cheated with the shot leather replaced by new tan boookbinders' skin .
The awful paint stripped and rough bare metal simply rubbed down a bit .
I love the idea of such a previously hugely expensive classic , reduced to near oblivion [ sold as spares ] now returned to perfect , snappy perfection , complete with scars which are well past ' patina ' .
Much more fun than even my near mint KNeB [ Kiev ] II !
Do you have a tired but beautifully working camera ?
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mickeyobe
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Post by mickeyobe on Jul 29, 2012 17:30:47 GMT -5
I guess I cheated with the shot leather replaced by new tan boookbinders' skin . Much more fun than even my near mint KNeB [ Kiev ] II ! Heartless. That poor bookbinder.  Mickey |
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mickeyobe
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Post by mickeyobe on Feb 23, 2014 18:33:00 GMT -5
Well, at first. upon seeing the naked tail I thought it was a rat. No. Too big. A muskrat? Not furry enough. The bright red nose which surely puts Rudolph's to shame gave it away. This was my first glimpse of a real live OPOSSUM ! I did not know they came this far north but Google and the tasty meals I leave outside for my neighbouring wildlife every day convinced me otherwise. I don't know if it was a boy or girl. When I asked if I could see if it had a pouch I was given a very rude response. A snarl. Here she/he is lunching on my delicious past-the-best-before-date grapes.  Mickey |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Feb 23, 2014 21:32:10 GMT -5
I had a 1937 Contax II at one point and never saw any sign of brassing on it. I still have a IIA and its plating seems fine, too.
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Post by rhythmthief on Jan 2, 2015 12:54:50 GMT -5
My Nikon F3 has been around the block a few times. I'm not sure how old it is, but the brass is showing through on the edges and where the wind lever is operated, there are minor dents in the prism and the rewind lever doesn't latch closed. But it still works well and takes great pictures. I like things to look a little used.
[edit] thread revival, sorry!
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Post by Peltigera on Jan 2, 2015 13:02:53 GMT -5
I quite like to see old threads being revived - a lot of the discussions are still interesting.
Most of my cameras are 'rat'cameras, 'as new' is not really interesting to me.
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Stephen
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Still collecting.......
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Post by Stephen on Jan 2, 2015 16:38:19 GMT -5
The sudden thin chrome on Zeiss cameras was due to redirecting of German wartime supplies of nickel and chrome to the German tool industry just before the war period. Previously the chrome was plated on nickel on top of copper, but they decided that chrome direct on brass was OK, and chrome on nickel over steel was acceptable. Several models like the Zeiss Tenax had poor chrome, and some makers resorted to black paint finish purely to save the nickel for war supplies.
Stephen.
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Post by genazzano on Jan 10, 2015 4:37:49 GMT -5
 This venerable camera proudly wears the years of use by a working, dedicated photographer. It began life in 1939 as a Leica I according to its serial number. It was upgraded by Leitz at least twice until finally about 1954 it emerged as a Leica IIf. Although it is worn, brass showing everywhere, couple dings on top and a well worn bottom plate, it is my very best working Leica by far. The shutter was upgraded by Leitz and has a very characteristic smooth solid sound. I don't know if "Rat Camera" is a good name for it. The use of Rat to describe cars seems to have emerged since I left the USA, but it fits the definition of the term. |
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Post by philbirch on Jan 10, 2015 23:06:48 GMT -5
A nice camera with an interesting history.
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Post by genazzano on Jan 11, 2015 6:31:43 GMT -5
To tell the truth, Phil, I am glad this old camera is still here. I am loading with some expired film today to shoot in my stroll through town.
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Post by philbirch on Jan 12, 2015 3:28:51 GMT -5
David, I understand. I think you'd always regret selling the IIf.
I'm not sure exactly what a rat camera is. At first I thought it meant a crappy, no good one, now I'm beginning to think it means a well worn but working camera. Please explain.
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Post by genazzano on Jan 12, 2015 4:23:42 GMT -5
The term Rat Camera comes from the American term Rat Rod, meaning a hot rod car with state of the art engine, suspension and chassis but with a rusty beatup terrible looking stock body. The ultimate street sleeper. The corvette pulls up next to an old 1955 Dodge or something like that with fenders that don't match and generally looking like a wreck but beneath the exterior is a supercharged Chrysler Hemi in a state of the art chassis and does the quarter mile in 9 seconds turning 150 mph.
Ahh I miss those years racing outlaw 7 liter Shelbys.
David
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Post by philbirch on Jan 13, 2015 4:41:16 GMT -5
I got rat-rod on a google search and had to work it out for myself. I was right. I guess your IIc qualifies then.
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