Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1996/10/06
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]>>In-Reply-To: <199610051624.MAA15540@worldy.worldy.com> >>Brian Levy writes: >> >>> Just how old are we? It is understandable that possibly the average age of a >>> Leica user or collector is somewhat older than say the Nikon, etc. user >>> for >>> it takes a higher income or greater assets to acquire a $2,000.00 lens >>> than >>> a $200.00 lens. I guess I'm one of the oldest. I'm 65, and I bought my first Leica (IIIfBD) new in 1950 for $163.50 with F2 Summicron. Since then, I've gotten a little wealthier, and have collected and disposed of every sort of Leica - Anastigmat, Elmax, both B models, IIId, 72, 250, etc. Now I'm down to about 10. No longer a collector, I still look back with happy memories. My favorite still is the M version, and my M6 has never given me a moments trouble. For what it worth - a little story: about 20 years ago, one of my IIIa cameras stopped working. I drove over to Leitz in Rockleith (at the time) and asked about repairs. They said that they no longer did screw mount repair, but recommended my to a former employee who formerly was their specialist, but who no longer commuted to New Jersey. His name was Vaclav Sedlechek. He was trained by a man named Oscar Barnack. Vaclav Sedlechek had become an epeleptic and could no longer travel. He had set up a Leica repair service in his house in Queens, NY. I began to visit him every weekend, and this old expert - an UR expert - taught me, within my small limits, how to strip, repair and clean all screw mount cameras. He has since passed away. I'm a lucky guy. Bowtie