Leather question

orlovphoto · Dec 16, 2010

Hypothetical discussion here - no need to mention any models or names...

Suppose you get a very very rare camera.... it's in working order with all speeds going.... no dings or major body damage... a little patina here and there but it's lovely... However the original leather only remains in the front under the lens in about a 5 square inch patch and is brittle like it's been dehydrated in purpose - pretty much crumbles off if you touch it...

Question - do you:

A) leave it on and don't breath on it
B) take it all and have nice shiny metal showing all around
C) have a professional replace the leather

Does option A add anything to the value cause I have a piece of original leather? Does C have a potential to decrease the value?

Thanks

Mitica100 · Dec 16, 2010

orlovphoto said:
Hypothetical discussion here - no need to mention any models or names...

Suppose you get a very very rare camera.... it's in working order with all speeds going.... no dings or major body damage... a little patina here and there but it's lovely... However the original leather only remains in the front under the lens in about a 5 square inch patch and is brittle like it's been dehydrated in purpose - pretty much crumbles off if you touch it...

Question - do you:

A) leave it on and don't breath on it
B) take it all and have nice shiny metal showing all around
C) have a professional replace the leather

Does option A add anything to the value cause I have a piece of original leather? Does C have a potential to decrease the value?

Thanks

A) all the way! Do not mess with the original if it's that rare. I assume it's not a 'user' camera and it's kept mostly for value and scarcity. If that's the case, leave as is.

B) Never!

C) You can also do it, I can show you how. But strongly consider A).

orlovphoto · Dec 16, 2010

Yeah, it's so brittle that pretty much every time you pick up the camera, unless you just handle it by the top plate and actually don't touch the remnants of the leather at all - it crumbles and cracks.
Also, it's not like it's ON the camera really, at this point it's being held on by a miracle only via the two tiny ass body screws that used to go though it - the rest of the 5 or so square inches that remain are split in the middle by one continuous crack and stick about 1/8th of an inch away from the body in a wave shape...

Paul Ron · Dec 16, 2010

What camera is it? Pics please? There arn't many "rare" cameras that would warrent such a treatment and if you did have one, go let a professional appraise it... also get a referal to a qualified antique restorer, maybe from a msueum, that is qualified to make restorations worth the camera's true value.

compur · Dec 16, 2010

orlovphoto said:
no need to mention any models or names...

I see a rather large need if you want an intelligent answer.

BAK61 · Dec 16, 2010

the answer is;D...try to find the same camera that may only be suitable for parts,and hope the case is in better condition than yours...

orlovphoto · Dec 16, 2010

"the answer is;D...try to find the same camera that may only be suitable for parts,and hope the case is in better condition than yours... "

yeah... I looked on eBay and the only sale I see for a camera like it is $1200 - and the leather on it was not in the best shape either...

It's a Canon rangefinder model S, circa 1939...

compur · Dec 16, 2010

Well, a Canon S is certainly a collectible camera -- congratulations.

In general there isn't as much universal agreement on the value of "original
condition" as regards cameras as with many other antiques. As an issue its
importance probably varies with the collector.

But, if you plan to sell it I would leave it alone as the new owner can always
have that done if desired.

If it were mine and I planned to keep it I would recover it with as close a
match as possible to the original but that's me.

orlovphoto · Dec 16, 2010

correction - 1942

orlovphoto · Dec 16, 2010

"If it were mine and I planned to keep it I would recover it with as close a
match as possible to the original but that's me."

That's what I was planning on doing, except before shooting it I would have to figure out how to focus it (as I can't for the life of me figure out how to move it off infinity, there may be a lock I don't know about or the wheel is stuck because of old lube) and send the lens out to get it cleaned - closets do nasty things to equipment over decades...

compur · Dec 16, 2010

There should be an infinity release button immediately below the left
rangefinder window.

Paul Ron · Dec 16, 2010

I thought you may like to see this site...

http://www.mir.com.my/rb/photograph...koresources/RF-Nikkor/Canon_RF/1940/index.htm

Nice camera.

Now let's see yours?

Mitica100 · Dec 17, 2010

Oh, a Canon S! Nice find!!

You can re-cover it, it's pretty easy. All you need is some similar grain leatherette from cameraleather.com and also some painter's tape, sharp Xacto knives, some toothpicks, possibly some leather punches of various sizes and lots of patience. In case you're interested, I will post the "How To' with pictures.

BAK61 · Dec 17, 2010

I understand the value of antiques,and how everything should be as original as possible, but i was wondering, alot of cases are generic. I mean do you buy a camera for the camera, or because it has a cool case? I would think the most important thing is to get the camera working,assuming you want to use it. Let's face it, don't the bellows on old cameras get replaced ? As long as the lens is clear,and the mechanics work the camera still has value. How many classic convertibles have their original ragtops? Some thing aren't supposed to last, leather for example...

Mitica100 · Dec 17, 2010

BAK61 said:
I understand the value of antiques,and how everything should be as original as possible, but i was wondering, alot of cases are generic. I mean do you buy a camera for the camera, or because it has a cool case? I would think the most important thing is to get the camera working,assuming you want to use it. Let's face it, don't the bellows on old cameras get replaced ? As long as the lens is clear,and the mechanics work the camera still has value. How many classic convertibles have their original ragtops? Some thing aren't supposed to last, leather for example...

BAK, you're right. There are two kinds of collectors, ones that buy the rare cameras and display them for their rarity, no matter what condition they are in and the ones that buy more 'generic' collectible cameras and restore them to the best of their ability. I have both kinds of cameras. For example, I have a 'generic' old Leica M3 DS (double stroke) which came into my possession in good working order mechanically but with the leatherette very dry and falling off. I re-covered it with a kit from cameraleather.com and it looks lots better now. I would not do that to a rare camera though, such is the case with an old Hasselblad 1600F which belonged to an American Avionics pioneer. The covering on it is deteriorating. I am trying to keep it from deteriorating further but I will not re-cover it with a new kit. Same with a 1940 Contax III that was decommissioned from a German U-Boat. You don't want to touch these things.

Analogy with older cars is good to a point, I've seen many restored to their initial beauty and function but again, I've seen others kept in the very original condition. It really depends on the rarity.