LF Camera store ambiance

[john_kasaian2]

Hello! A recent post got me thinking about camera stores that have a historical commitment to LF. You know, LF "candy shops" with the stuff dripping from the cielings, cluttering the counters and stacked in cardboard boxes on the floor, just like old time hardware stores. Years ago(decades, actually) I visited Adolph Gasser in San Francisco...the Holy of Holies where Ansel Adams supposedly bought stuff. As I recall, Gassers also sold electric toy trains. A wonderful place located in a 1940's time warp part of the City. On a recent trip to SF I learned that there were now two Adolph Gassers and I called to find out which one stocked the LF gear. The adress was, I think, South of Market in a trendy area of new sky high office buildings. I went anyway with fear and trepidation, only to find the new Gassers as cramped , crowded, and musty as the old. A place where you could ask a clerk about hard rubber three gallon tanks and hangers and they'd know what you're talking about. I left with a lensboard for the 'dorff. Another Icon thats recently moved is Freestyle. I've never been to the old Freestyle but a friend had described the place as being "glorius." By the time I got to Hollywood( the purpose of the trip was to take my light meter in for calibration at Quality Light-metric) and Freestyle, they had moved into a new building. While the place didn't have the "smell" and lacked the used merchandise it was certainly seemed like it was on it's way "there." I can't wait to get back to see how the place "aged." I can think of a few other places worth looking around: Pardee's in Sacramento. Camera Club in Santa Cruz(or is it Soquel?) I was wondering what other "shrines" the LF "pilgrim" might want to visit? Is there a camera store you know of that keeps old 8x10 film holders in a cardboard box? Has a showcase shelf full of Wallensaks? Maybe they still stock parts for the D-2 Omega and Bay 1 filters for old Rolleis? Or better still: the Owner can chew a cigar,fire a Speed Graphic and tell you why 120 Kodachrome never caught on ALL AT THE SAME TIME! If you know of such places, please share them. I'd like to pay a call if I find myself in the area.

[dan_fromm1]

Midwest Photo Exchange, Columbus, OH. No cigars, though.

[wayne_campbell]

The Pittsburgh Camera Exchange in beautiful Pittsburgh, PA.

Three + glorious floors stacked to the ceiling (and we're talking

20' ceilings) and even an 1890's operating photographer's

studio set up for you to ogle. An incredible find.

They are the

Pittsburgh Camera Exchange

529 East Ohio St.

Pittsburgh, PA 15212

(412) 231-6850

 

<p>

 

Take a peek at their web site :

http://www.pghcamex.com/

[eugene_singer]

John, I know exactly what you are talking about. Whenever I traveled

to a new place, I would look through the yellow pages in the phone

book to see if there was a local photo shop I could visit as part of

my sight-seeing itinerary. I visited a lot of stores across the

country over the years. Sadly, the type of camera stores you describe

are disapearing. As a teenager, I fell in love with cameras. I would

take the streetcar to downtown Detroit and hang around the Detroit

Camera shop for hours just looking at all that stuff. They had dusty

old used Speed Graphics stacked to the ceiling. Finally, I was able

to buy a 4X5 outfit from them in 1948. The sales clerk gave me a very

low price just to get rid of me (as well as the beat-up old press

camera that nobody else wanted). I don't look for those stores

anymore. It's much easier to sit here at my computer and surf the web

for the equipment and supplies I need. Most of the people who work in

camera stores nowadays get very annoyed when asked about large format

equipment or accessories. They don't want to admit that they know

nothing about the subject. If there is someone in the store who does

know, he, or she is usually busy trying to adjust the one-hour

photofinishing machine which has just ruined the last batch of 4X6

color prints.

[edward_burlew]

The camera stores in Toronto and southern Ontario tht used to have

that ambience are now gone, the rack of bizzzare lense boards and

lense displays and unkown reducing backs have gone into the hands of

the receivers.The only place to actually see the stuff is at the

camera swap meets that occurr 4x a year. Those great camera stores

are gone. In fact the sales people are so hell bent on selling

digital that I have seen doctors with big bucks who go in o buy a

Hassselbald be sold on a digital by the sales persons. The large

format stuff is half way between obsolete and museum pieces and until

it hits museum status the ability to find it up here is dwindling.

[asher_galloway1]

Quality Camera in Atlanta.It's not a large store but they pack a lot

of stuff in there.The staff is very friendly and well informed about

large format.They run an ad in View Camera Magazine every month.Their

business is mostly mail order,but they are always ready to drop what

they are doing and help you.They have a web site;but it's been"under

construction"for at least the last year.

[jeff_chadwick]

I remember growing up in Clearwater, Fl. and going to Murrays Camera,

what a place! Although Murray was not the most "Friendly" of people

(maybe it was just me though - who wants to help a 17 year old High

school student?). But the old stuff that he had, and the smell of the

store...It just smelled like Photography (and Mothballs). Its been

many years since I've been back - who wants to live in Florida when

you could have "Sunny" Rochester, NY instead!

[psychophoto]

I'll second Midwest Camera in Columbus. Great store, great

people. And have you ever been in the basement?! More

assorted, random, and weird old photo stuff than I've ever seen

anywhere else. Definitely a place to visit.

[psychophoto]

Midwest Photo Exchange, that is.....you'd think I could remember

the name of the place....

[colin carron]

If you visit the UK give Mr Cad (www.mrcad.co.uk) a try. The only

problem there is not tripping over the stuff all over the floor.

Another though rather better organized aladdin's cave is mxv

photographic (www.mxv.co.uk).

[john_kasaian2]

Thank you all! It was interesting to note that most of the places

listed are also reputable mail order merchants. Its nice to know

that when I order through the mail(because local stores would rather

not be bothered with LF, or at least thats the impression I get) that

I'm supporting the kind of place where LF and tradional photography

is given it's due. I'm surprised that no businesses in New York City

were noted. I hope to discover more LF time-warps this Summer. They

may be few and far between, but it's always a good time. Cheers!

[mark_sampson]

Lens&Repro in NYC. Worth a trip there all by itself.

[nicholas_f._jones]

John,

 

You have a lot to say about San Francisco, but what about the East Bay? When in Berkeley, you gotta check out Looking Glass Photo on Telegraph at Oregon St. south of campus. Funky little yellow stucco building with faux tile roof; inside, red-and-black square lineoleum floor and the densely packed crammed-in but nonetheless highly organized set-up reminiscent of the book stores up the street. Just about everything you need for LF, even 8x10! I'm keeping Looking Glass in mind for my next trip out from the East. Cheers, Nick.