Collectors face some hard truths about their traits. If you collect anything, there are times you are faced with something you already have. How you react says a lot about your standards and mind set.
We have a society member who can’t resist a certain camera. It was the camera he wanted most, used the most, and it came in various improved forms so he originally got into the habit of snapping them up as they became available. Now they are like buying a pack of cigarettes to a smoker, he buys them even if he has one exactly the same (that should be enough for anyone).
In my case months ago I had acquired a Konica Auto S2 in perfect shape in the original box complete with instructions. I had written an article on it. I thought I was done with it.
Then I found another one. By coincidence it was at the same thrift store. It was $9. The last one had cost me $15. It is a heck of a fine camera, probably better than any chance I would have that day to find as good a camera at anything close to that price.
So I bought it…
Now it so happened I did find something nice for roughly the same price at the very next stop. It wasn’t a camera, but if I was going to have to settle for just one of them I would probably have forgone the Konica to get something different. Still, one doesn’t make these choices unless it is in the same store before one reaches the till.
It isn’t like I need good “stock” for turnover. I am a “black hole” collector who rarely parts with anything. I consider everything I buy is a gift to me. Who am I to look a gift horse in the mouth?
Besides, collecting old cameras means accepting the condition they are in. This “new” S2 has a name engraved on it
The case has been damaged by the removal of identity tapes. The door seals have dissolved into sticky gunk.
My older S2 is in better condition.
I can kid myself I now have a “user” (are you as tired as I am seeing things in quotes?).
This new S2 did come with a partially shot 24-shot roll of colour film.
It also had a dead PX-625 battery. I
collect dead 625 batteries—they were banned many, many years ago—because I could modify them to “take” (darn it) newer batteries.
Yeah, right…
Watch for the next blog on good *intentions* (I resisted quotes there) that will never happen.
I also just noticed the two Auto S2’s were made fairly close together! The original one has a serial number of 795497. The newer one is 796385. That is just 888 units apart. It means the newer one is in more ways than one! What are the chances?
Probably pretty good, considering many importers buy cameras in consecutive batches and pass the cameras down to local camera stores, again in groups.
Something to think about…
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