'Ask Not For Whom The Bell Tolls'

<p>In less than a week, I've acquired a nice pair of British Ensigns - a Commando and a Selfix 820, plus lots of interesting bits and bobs like the original box for the Selfix and an original IB for the Commando. I've attached a pic of the stuff, for those interested in Clapham Common Classics. I've also been offered a Yashica 635, which will look nice alongside my early Yashicamat in the Trophy Cupboard.</p>

<p>But am I happy about these classic acquisitions? I guess I should be, but there's a consistently morbid aspect that's worrying me. Specifically, they're all being flogged off by grieving widows whose husbands have recently carked it. Now you'd suspect some of the cameras might have some sort of sentimental interest, such as having been the one that the late Wally or Fred used to take the pics of the happy couple on their honeymoon back in 1949 or 1964 -- but apparently not. These widows seem only too eager to get rid of 'em ASAP!</p>

<p>Well, at least I can offer them all a good home, I guess, be it only temporary. That's because the bit that's worrying me is whether I too am getting on some morbid Magic Roundabout, collecting stuff that statistically is more likely to end up getting similarly disposed of, bearing in mind that wimmen usually outlive us blokes. My missis is only interested in my really early folders with the maroon bellows, shiny nickel and brass - all the rest are just 'those bloody cameras'.</p>

<p>So, now you can see where those classic lines from John Donne about the bell tolling, come into the equation. I wonder if he collected old cameras, by the way ......</p>

<p> A MELANCHOLY PETE IN PERTH</p><div></div>

<p>Cheer up Pete! Guess winter must be coming on down under....<br>

A couple of things are at work here; the feminine mind does not prize technological gadgets they way dudes do. I bet all the fellow's tools and classic cars are disposed of with equally faint disdain.<br>

Also, it may be grief causing the quick disposal. Perhaps seeing the camera reminds a widow of her husband.<br>

You're right that someday all of our photo gadgets will end up in someone else's hands (hopefully NOT the city dump!) But as my late father always said; "You can't take it with you!" So perhaps finding some college or analog photo club or even just an interested young relative or friend will ease your mind. My daughter knows she is gonna get Dad's collection some day, and I've tried hard to get her involved in using these classics with me.<br>

For now enjoy using the old cameras and see your work as a fine continuation of the legacy of the original photographer, which someday another may take up for you.</p>

<p>Oh, Pete, a thought I've had so often. It has led me to believe married folk are strangers who go into their corners and lead separate lives. How many sales have I gone to where the woman knows nothing of her husband's pasttime? It was just him keeping out of her hair off in some little corner somewhere doing whatever it is that he does. What emptiness. What a relationship. It has turned me off for marriage. </p>

<p>But, Pete, you missed the other thing about buying all these cameras coming from those sources. Each one of the cameras carries a little bit of the bad mojo of its previous owner so, each camera you get builds up the bad mojo bit by bit until, someday, it gets you. </p>

<p>The other thing that bothers me is that, when someone dies and the survivors have a sale, the telltale signs of the dog or cat are left behind also. The pets are the first casualties of an owner's demise. There in the corner is the scratching post or the empty food bowl. The photos of poofy are being trampled on the carpet by the sale attendees who are more like raiders. Poofy was sent to "the animal shelter". Yes, and old pets don't get adopted so, as I so often say, 7 days after someone dies the first one the ghost meets is the ghost of their pet. </p>

<p>I always wanted to write a book called "Dead People's Cameras". After acquiring more than ton and a half of quality folders, RFs, TLRs, and a smattering of miscellaneous doodads and gizmos, I came to realize, too, that all of these finds (or at least most of them) were sold by widows.<br>

Quite true that one often hears "I know nothing about these old things" uttered from the lips of a surviving relative. This is usually followed by some indifferent gesture and a quick sale in which our lucky buyer sports his best poker face, gleefully trots back to his car and fills the boot with a few boxes of gear and some crusty leather satchels with some nice Rollei, V'lander, or Leica tucked inside. <br>

After snapping a few rolls of FP4 in a "fresh from the grave" Selfix 1620 (part of a huge collection swiped for an obscenely low two-digit price tag) I've come to hand the reigns over to another eager collector/user. Not a bad camera, either. About the same size and a few ounces lighter than a Retina IIIc, this little folder makes some decent 645's . I'd prefer the Bessa , however, as a portable 645/69 folder. </p>

<p>Morbid connotations should be ignored. After all, we're providing a valuable service of sorts. On the one hand we indeed rid the mourners of some painful reminder of the departed, but on the other hand, we provide some income for the grieving family. Most of all, we supply our market with fresh blood ( OK, that's morbid). </p>

<p>I've found that I can reduce the half-life of my Catholic Guilt if I convince the seller that I'll cherish the late Harry's cameras and lenses, proudly display them and use them from time to time. Often, I pop in a roll of film and fire away some impromptu portrits of the seller with the old cameras I've just bought. They're delighted to receive an email of the scanned negs a coupla days later. There's less of a chance that I'll loose sleep over getting an M3 with a brace of Elmars and Summis for $100 if I keep the transaction as friendly and sincere as possible ( but, after all, it is business).</p>

<p>On another thread, I'd like to read some Paul Auster-esque tales of other collectors how they've come to own such-and-such a camera. I'm certain there'll be some sentimental tear-jerkers amongst the braggadocio , and perhaps some philosophical tales of morality thrown in for good measure.</p>

<p> </p><div></div>

<p>Nice camera. Why worry about what you have no control over? I've collected a bunch of stuff that was once owned by now dead owners? Do I really think about it? Not for a moment. I'm just happy to use some of this grand gear while I'm here, much of it very high quality gear that I couldn't ever justify buying at full retail even if it could be had. I can count a pair of Mamiya 220's, a Hasselblad 503cx, a Crown Graphic, and a Graphic view among my estate sale bargains. I don't really care what happens to it once I'm gone. I'll be dead and there won't be any me to care. Enjoy it while you can.</p>

<p>Live a full life. Yes, the widows want to get rid of stuff; really, they have to in order to get on with living their lives, if you think about it. That stuff's not as important as the widows anyway.</p>

<p>The cameras that you found with the widows could have just as easily been headed toward the scrap heap; a previous owner might have tosed them in the trash and the landfill already anyway; yet, they persist. </p>

<p>Probably the best thing to do about this is to reload one of those cameras, get out there and make some pictures. I find when I'm in a slump, it helps to go through the files and do a little more printing. J.</p>

<p>Thanks, guys, for your various interesting viewpoints on this rather morbid but realistic topic. All the points raised are relevant, from grieving widows maybe wanting to cut the ties with their departed, to just keeping old classic cameras up and running in the mitts of those wanting to give 'em a good home.</p>

<p>I keep recalling an old but still funny cartoon, though. The scenario is of some poor schmuck who's lying dead on the sofa wearing a particularly loud shirt, clearly having been shot by his decidedly non-grieving widow. The head cop is reading the usual rights bit as he arrests her, and he moves on to ask just why she did it. 'Well' she replies, 'it was because he didn't match my curtains' .....</p>

<p>I don't know how camera collections fit into the matching-or-not scenario, but I did acquire the Yashica 635 today from Widow #2, and a very nice example it is too, complete with original leather case and 35mm adapting gizmo kit She appeared to be decidedly in the non-grieving category, just wanting to clear her Departed's Den out ASAP of all his collected clutter so the room could be refurbished for something more appropriate. Maybe a collection of Mills And Boon literary masterpieces, or an ongoing tribute to that cure for insomnia 'The Bold And The Beautiful', or a crocheting corner? </p>

<p>Dunno, but the old Yashie TLR looks hardly used, so I'll try and avoid the possible negative vibes that somebody mentioned and just enjoy the new addition for its own sake. I don't think it can have taken many (if any) pics of He and She, to be honest. I'll post a pic of the 635 outfit in due course, because it really is a stunner. Shame it only has the Yashikor triplet F3.5 though. Apparently there are some around with the better Yashinon F3.5, which makes far more hindsight sense to me in view of all the fine effort that Yashica put into making the only production dual-format TLR ever.</p>

<p>PETE IN PERTH</p>

<blockquote>

<p>Maybe a collection of Mills And Boon literary masterpieces, or an ongoing tribute to that cure for insomnia 'The Bold And The Beautiful', or a crocheting corner?</p>

</blockquote>

<p>One thing to be sure of Pete which may cheer you in a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schadenfreude">Schadenfreude</a> kind of way; one day the callous widow's crap will surely end up in the municipal dump! In the meantime keep on click'n.</p>

<p>"Carked It". I'm sure I know what you mean, but I've not heard the term before. I too some times wonder about what will become of my material possesions when I go. More so recently since my Dads passing a little over a month ago. I can only hope that they will go to some one who needs, and will use them. I' most concerned aboout all the images I've recorded over the years. I only hope that my Daughter will some how maintain them. </p>

<p>Tom, have you been spying on me? It's not just the wife, but the daughter too...</p>

<p>You are right. I forgot about the kids. You don't know how many estate sales I have been to that the father was obviously educated but the kids are so, how do you say it, plain hillbillies. How does that happen? How do middle class educated people produce "white trash" as offspring? They are like cavemen poking all those technical books on the shelves and cameras/instruments with spears wondering what they are for. Then, when it is determined it can't be eaten or drunk, they stand around clueless with their chest puffed out trying to put on an act that they are knowledgeable and look at me incredulously when I don't snap up their Box Brownie for $100. </p>

<p>Not referring to your daughter Rob. Your comment just reminded me of those other instances. </p>

<p>If it walks like a duck, swims like a duck, quacks like a duck, chances are it is a duck...</p>

<p>All the same, <em>white trash</em> and <em>hillbillies</em> are terms that are really not very nice.</p>

<p>Maybe there should be a new dept. set up here on photo.net where we can offer our eq. to others. </p>