Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1998/12/11
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Mike Dembinski wrote: >Not forgetting the top-of-the-range Humber Imperial (vinyl roof, extra >super-duper appointments within to keep the most demanding plutocrat in utter >comfort) nor the Humber Hawk, a stripped down version of the Super Snipe. >Until >recently here in Warsaw there were a couple driving around - leftovers >from the >British Embassy's car fleet, I guess. Which reminds me that my first ever car (purchased for the princely sum of about USD100) was a 1926 Humber 9/20 tourer (20 stands for 20 bhp). I was 17; it was 36! Three speed crash box on the right, accelerator pedal in the middle, hand throttle and ignition advance/retard, and no brakes worth speaking of. Also no windows. It'd do about 45 mph flat out. On the other hand, the unobstructed button-leather bench front seat proved very useful for romantic teenage encounters, albeit a bit chilly if the wind was in the wrong direction. Passed my test first time on this. I think the examiner was surprised I could drive it at all. To wrench this thread back on topic, it was a similar story with my first Leica - a mostly brass IIIa with Summar which I used throughout my university days as a staffer on the university newspaper. I was 18; it was 30. Published a lot on the front page with that one. Maybe that car was where my love of ancient precision machinery came from.......but then nostalgia ain't what it used to be. Slan Alex Alex Hurst Cork Florists 19 Winthrop St, Cork Republic of Ireland Tel: +353 21 270 907 Fax: +353 21 271 248 email: corkflor@iol.ie Website: http://www.flowerlink.com/corkflorists Home website: http://homepages.iol.ie/~corkflor/