[Leica] That $5,555 lens shade--news

[Mike Johnston <michaeljohnston@ameritech.net>]

This is posted from off-list:

I just spoke to Roger Reinke, the gentleman who sold the $5,555 Nikon
lens hood. He confirmed that the buyer is a previous customer of his,
with a sterling reputation, and that the money has been confirmed to be
on the way, so it looks to be a real sale.

Roger is not sure precisely what happened with the bid fluctuation, but
his speculation is that the underbidder got cold feet, retracted his
bid, then learned that the auction was attracting interest around the
globe and became concerned that his action might tarnish his reputation
for honesty; and so he reposted the same bid he had made earlier,
essentially nullifying his retraction but nothing more. Both main
bidders, by the way, are well-known and well-respected Japanese
collectors, according to Roger.

The Nikon expert Roger quoted was Fred Krughoff (sp?) who has posted a
short note about it on the Nikon Historical Society web page, where he
(Fred) is webmaster.

Roger told me he expected the lens shade to fetch "$150 or $250." As you
might imagine, he and his wife are extremely pleased with the way things
turned out!

- --Mike

(Again, this is posted from off-list.)