[Leica] BALUGgers at the SJ Photo Fair

[John Gong <jgong@cisco.com>]

This morning, I was spotted by fellow lugger David Lee. After getting an
email from Bill L., and reading Peter C's message, it seems to me that the
photo swap meets are stomping grounds for more than a few LUGgers.  In the
past, I've met Joe Codispoti, Stephen Gandy, Don Chatterton in the bay area.
If there is any interest, I will organize a small gathering at the next fair
in San Mateo, Jan. 6 2001.

I'm wondering what your observations are of the photo swap meets. In the
past half decade, I've gone to one per year to ramp up my Leica gear.
Attendance seems to have held steady, or has been on a slow decline. Maybe
I'm also tired of seeing the same vendors there. Bargains from those folks
are few and far in between. I generally have bought items from individuals
like myself who are unloading little used personal gear.

This year, I purchased the enlarger from such a person. The deals I got for
additional darkroom supplies came from Ivan, who owned the late, lamented
Camerabug and Camerabug II shops in San Francisco. A true friend to
photography in SF, he provided student discounts and kept a good stock of
the low margin darkroom gear at his stores. He's blowing out his remaining
stock; papers and chemicals were being sold at below cost. One of the few
official Leica dealers in the bay area, he managed to sell all his Leica
gear before his last store closed.


John