[Leica] Ted Grant on CBC Radio

[Jim at hemenway.com (Jim Hemenway)]

A great story.

Jim

Ted Grant wrote:

> Geoff Hopkinson asked:
> 
> Subject: RE:Ted Grant on CBC Radio
> 
> 
>>>Tina and Ted, please tell us about the 'standoff on the steps'
> 
> incident!<<<
> 
> Hi Geoff,
> 
> A long long time ago in a galaxy far far away a photojournalist known as
> "Ted the Terrible"
> 
> became somewhat annoyed with, at the time "LEICA CANADA" about an R4 
> Leica. 
> 
> It had been back and forth between Victoria & Toronto for so called service
> more times than you can imagine. Well Ok 4 or 5 times and twice out of box
> after service in exactly the same state it had been sent for repair.
> 
> Upon receiving the camera in Victoria once again with complete assurances
> that it was perfect I was once again the proud and happy owner of 3 motor
> driven R4's!
> 
> However? Only to find right out of the box it was the same as it left here.
> :-(
> 
> To say the least I was a tad "upset!" Once again! I mean how many times can
> something, well the same thing, be wrong on an R4?
> 
> So with a Toronto assignment on the horizon in a few days I called Leica
> Canada and gave them this gentle but firm notice.
> 
> "I'm arriving in Toronto next Monday and bringing back the R4 that just
> arrived from your service department in the same state it was when I sent
> it! However this is the 4th time this same camera has crashed and burned in
> similar condition so I want a brand new replacement. No if's and or but's. 
> a
> new one. No your service department isn't going to have a look again. It's
> new camera replacement or I'm going to smash this one to pieces on the 
> front
> steps in full view of the local Toronto media, TV and newspaper
> photographers!"
> 
> I arrive at the Leica office a few days later R4 in hand and ask about the
> replacement? 
> 
> "Oh Ted we know you, always joking around let us leave the camera for the
> service guys to have a look and we'll take you for lunch. When we get back
> all will be fine."
> 
> "OK," says I. But if you don't give me a new camera after lunch the media
> will be here and I'll smash this one and it'll be on the 6 o'clock news."
> "Ya ya Ted, relax all will be well." :-)
> 
> We go to lunch, at least they paid. :-) Upon return sure enough there are 
> TV
> camera crews, several newspaper photogs, some saying "Hi Ted when you going
> to do this Leica smashing thing?" 
> 
> "As soon as I don't get a new camera!"  :-)
> 
> The Leica head people thought I was joking when I had told them the media
> would be there. However when we went inside and they wanted to give me back
> the same R4, once again assuring me it was perfect, I offered in return.
> 
> "Nope it's a new camera or a smashed camera!" See I didn't have anything to
> lose the damn R4 was a lemon, as some were. Not fit to be an anchor on a
> boat.
> 
> Yep my 2 other R4's worked perfectly, this one was as yellow lemon as a
> lemon could be. So what the hell I might as well smash it as it wasn't ever
> going to work right. Nor could I trust it to shooting paying assignments.
> ERGO!  Smash it and have an expensive Leica camera smashed to pieces on the
> front steps of LEICA CANADA in front of TV cameras and newspaper/wire
> service photographers.
> 
> Now that should get some attention in the camera world. Maybe even in
> Germany! :-)
> 
> When the head guys realized I wasn't kidding about smashing it, all of a
> sudden. Somebody turned up with a brand new R4 in box and. "Here Ted a
> replacement camera just for you!" And they were all smiles. Mean while the
> original lemon camera disappeared! :-)
> 
> So there you go as close as I remember the "Stand Off on the Steps!":-)
> 
> ted
> 
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> 
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