Rolleiflex Automat Beats the Lockdown - Just

I ran a film through this Rolleiflex the same morning I used the Beautyflex, just before the lockdown. LINK: The Beautyflex 2.8 at a Canter

 

I bought it with the intention of selling it on, but it's such a pleasure to use, the operation is so smooth and reliable, I will probably keep it. It's an Automat Model 3 dating, like me, from the late 1940's, and has a Xenar lens and an neatly retro fitted flash terminal.

 

 

These pictures were taken in and around Great Central Street in Leicester. Despite massive redevelopment on the side opposite, the old station building has not only survived, but has been completely refurbished with a new roof. As yet it's unoccupied.

 

 

The Great Central Railway was conceived by Sir Edward Watkin as the ambitious London Extension of the Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway, and was built in the 1890's to a very high standard, with a view to linking with the future Channel Tunnel. Huge engineering works were needed to get it through the centres of Leicester and Nottingham, and towards the North of England. In the 1960's Dr Beeching closed the line, and the route was lost to housing development and neglect. Now the government are building a new Great Central, called HS2, at a cost of heaven know how many billion, but it won't even go through the East Midlands cities, just to Birmingham with eventually an East Midlands spur to a station in the middle of nowhere. Meanwhile the routes between Loughborough and the outskirts of Leicester, and Loughborough and the outskirts of Nottingham, have been restored by different preservation groups who are planning to close a gap north of Loughborough after replacing a demolished bridge over the Midland Main Line.

 

 

 

The Parcels Entrance

 

 

New buildings opposite the station.

 

 

The concourse - shot through window glass. Thats all from the Automat, thanks for looking.

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Ahh, but the Beautyflex has such big eyes! Keep 'em both.

 

Love the last shot with the reflection!

Great Shooting.. love the patina of that Rolleiflex. The Concourse works really well.

Fine results from the old Rollei, John, definitely a keeper in my opinion. Fomapan 100 again, I assume, judging by the tones? Thanks for the potted history, as well!

Thanks Stuart, Chuck, yes the shot through the window worked better than I expected. It was the same Fomapan, Rick, fortunately the last roll. I expect I will keep the cameras, anyway I'm not selling anything until the lockdown is lifted.

 

My Dad worked for British Railways and was often called out to problems with lifts at the Great Central Station. He sometimes took me along - in the days before health and safety. There were two electrically powered lifts, the "old lift" which was installed around 1892, and the "new lift", installed a couple of years later.

 

Here are a couple more from nearby:

Nice camera and photos. I have one of those packed away.

Thanks for the report.

 

Excellent!

 

That's another thing many of us should be doing in the times we are now in.

Beautiful pictures, John! I wanted to go out and hoot some; but the Lock Down here is strictly enforced. Cannot go out except for essentials like grocers, and the Bank. Even the Post Office is a nono! SP

Thanks SP and good to hear from you. As I said these were done just before the lockdown. Let's hope we can get back to normal, it would be good to see some of your work again. Stay safe.

I don't think the "stay at home" order is as strict here in Mississippi, but most of us are sticking with only going to the essential places. I carry a camera or two along as there are still photo ops out there. If I have to stay in my vehicle I can often get a photo or two through open windows. A short zoom (like 35-70 or so is a useful companion. Also a good opportunity to see which automobile windshields have the greatest effect on sharpness. Got a few images that I made that way while sitting at a stoplight. But to the original topic: John- great images from the Rolleiflex.

We are allowed to go out for excercise, I guess there would be no problem with stopping for a breather and taking the odd picture. The picture of the station concourse was taken through glass, which hasn't helped the Xenar lens but a little post processing helped.

Lovely camera and lovely photos as well.