[Leica] gold plating Leica

["Emanuel Lowi" <mano@proxyma.net>]

Frank Filippone (a careless source, sorry) wrote:

"A story for those of you that use DAG for repair.....

I met Mr, Goldberg ( I assume it was the same person as the guy I met also
reparied cameras) years ago at the Pasadena or Riverside camera show.....he
was custom gold plating cameras..... I could have a Contax IIIA made in
gleaming gold paint.....he did Minox and maybe another camera or 2, and
especially Leicas.....I don;t think he does this anymore, but the next time
you want a real knock out camera, ask him......"

Frank, you have made a terrible mistake. Don Goldberg has not made a business of
plating cameras. He is a Wetzlar-trained repair technician and one of the best,
together with Sherry, Reinhold and a few others in the world. 

There was a man named Maizenberg who had a long career gold-plating all kinds of
Leicas etc. I know all the 'berg names sound the same (yah, right) - but it certainly
was not Don you met years ago with those cameras.

This is the Leica User's Group, not the Leica Collectors Forum. While I have
sometimes been a collector, I refrain from cluttering up this place with collector's
ruminations, for fear of infuriating the list members. 

Basically, anybody who has ever loaded film into a Leica and pushed the shutter
release is a user. Collecting is an entirely different obsession that involves the
systematic study of historic minutiae. An interesting and fun hobby but not for
everyone. May
I suggest that those who haven't delved into it may not be so well-placed to
pronounce opinions about the obscure details of such-and-such a Leica model of 40
years ago? Or, better, may I suggest that those who feel they must make such
statements please go check one of the excellent reference books out there? Start, at
minimum, with the Hove pocket guides. If you like what you find, move on to
Rogliatti, Van Hasbroek and the great Lager volumes. The research has been done and
is available for study. Otherwise, let's keep it to Leica usage, photography and
underwear...

Emanuel Lowi
Montreal