Re: [Leica] which camera body to select

["Ted Grant" <tedgrant@home.com>]

Guy Bennett wrote:

> Which came first: the chrome (chicken) or the black (egg)?<<<,

Guy, it had to be the black egg, as I've a very nice Leica A ? I think it
is, or certainly one of the very early  4 digit serial numbered cameras,
from 1932 or earlier and it's a very neat looking painted black.

No it's not for sale to anyone, as it works just fine, ( now) not only that,
I bought it from a widow lady for $50 bucks. :-) She wanted to know how much
it would be worth and as I quietly chuckled to myself in pure charlatan
manner, I set the shutter speed to very slow and tripped the shutter!

Of course there was a kind of whirring sound indicating there was a problem
to the widow.  As I exclaimed in a somewhat disappointing voice, "Gee it
doesn't sound like it's working properly, would $50 dollars be alright as
I'll have to have it repaired?"

I mean it was said with all the emotion I could muster at feeling sorry, as
this was her late husband's favorite camera and I said I'd honour his
feeling and keep it as a treasured item for my picture taking.

Yeessss! She went for it and we exchanged paper money and camera. :-)

Now don't get all uppity guys, she was a multimillion dollar widow! :-)

Of course when you cut what you think is a cool deal you often get burnt,
right?  So I sent the camera in for overall and surprise of surprises I was
burnt for the tidy sum of $550.00!  :-(

So, devils in sheep's clothing should beware when they think they've pulled
a cool deal. :-) :-)

But Guy, definitely the black egg before the chrome chicken! ;-)
ted










Ted Grant Photography Limited
www.islandnet.com/~tedgrant