“You do know you are a collector now”, said Ivor Cooper at Red Dot Cameras as I picked up my umpteenth Elmar lens cap and a tatty old strapless leather ever-ready case. I didn’t and I don’t think I am. Sure enough I have a few examples of screw-mount and M Leica bodies and lenses, but I wouldn’t call myself a collector. That appellation I reserve for the serious guys such as William Fagan and his one-of-every version 5cm Elmars.
But collecting is a comforting pastime. As a motorcyclist for most of my adult life I always imagined ending up as a collector of vintage motorcycles. It was a natural progression and I do have a penchant for the bikes of the 1920s and 1930s; indeed, I find the 1930s in general quite fascinating. That’s one of the reasons I am so often to be found wandering around Brooklands, camera in hand.
Leicas are house trained
Sadly, any dreams of assembling a race of old motorcycles are long past. For one thing, bikes are big and heavy. For another, they need lots of space and regular servicing. They leak oil. Old cameras, in my case Leicas and their kith and kin, are a different kettle of fish. They are tempting largely because they are small and handleable. They take up so little space, seldom need servicing and are beautiful objects to behold (as is this old Brough, I might add).
Leicas are also house trained, unlike that 1935 Brough Superior pictured above. Crucially, too, they are easy to trade and find a ready market. You are unlikely to lose much, if anything, and you could even make a bit of profit if you buy wisely. This is not to say you can’t turn a profit on old motorcycles; in fact they are probably an even better bet financially, but come with a convenience penalty.
My “collection”, such as it is, is sits happily in a very small IKEA display case here in our Holborn offices, admired by friends and visitors alike. But I am not a collector. I repeat, I am not a collector. Perish the thought.
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I am the poor, confused Leica newbie that started that thread. Alas, for some reason, completely beyond my comprehension, I just added a Leica IA to my growing "collection." It is easy to be filled with doubt and concern as these things accumulate. But I will say this: this morning, when I pulled the 1A out of its packaging, and felt the weight and shape of it for the first time, I new it was the right decision. There is a certain and unique magic to each and every one of these old, inanimate objects.
I will quote Victor Hugo regarding things not understood: The beauty of ignorance is that you are not troubled with vagary.
Ah, William will be pleased to identify you! I also am a newbie when it comes to vintage Leicas. I had the same feeling a month or so ago when I bought a IA from a camera fair here in London. It’s just so right that it beggars belief it is near 90 years old. I can now understand where they got the design for the X1 from. It’s the Barnack digital. If you would like to write a few words on your new IA and, perhaps, send a couple of pictures from it/of it, I would be glad to consider publishing.
There is an interesting debate about collectible v usable going on at the Leica Forum at present. I have made a number of contributions to this debate, which initially revolved around the Leica IIIcK.
http://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/257672-collectible-vs-usable/
Our Moderator came up with a quote in French which summarises this nicely:
"Objets inanimés, avez-vous donc une âme qui s’attache à notre âme et la force d’aimer"
(Alphonse de Lamartine)
Which translated into English is:
"Inanimate objects, so you have a soul that attaches to our soul and strength to love"
Not being as literate as our Moderator, I explained why I collect with a quote from Louis Armstrong about " what is jazz?" , " if you have to ask, you will never know".
Some people get it, most don’t, but that doesn’t bother me as I prefer personal satisfaction to peer group approval.
I use items from my collection when ‘the humour takes me’, but I would say that at least 70 to 80% of my photography is with current digital cameras.That does not invalidate my collecting hobby.
I would love to collect old cars but my lack of space and mechanical skills conspire to prevent this from happening.
William
"But I am not a collector. I repeat, I am not a collector."
Oh but you are Michael, you are!
Denial is not just a river in Egypt…
I’m not, I’m not, so there!