I am an artist, college student, wife, mother, New Yorker, amateur photographer and vintage camera enthusiast. Trying to figure out my niche in the photography world, and hopefully take my place in it.
"I am not a nice girl, I am a photographer." - Berenice Abbott
No one can say I didn’t have a productive day today. I got my order from Photojojo and Four Corner Store. So much camera goodness all in one shot! So, today I built my 35mm pinhole camera (from Photojojo) and my “Gakkenflex” 35mm TLR.
Had some ups, had some downs and because of said ups and downs I’m considering whether or not to record a video blog. My husband has been pressuring me to do it since we do have the technology… I’m thinking it would be easier so yea okay, I think I will. So pictures AND Video to come- later today at normal hours. I need to get to bed.
Night Tumblrs.
Oh man, I just HAD to share! Man this guy is not happy. Poor guy has gotten stiffed so many times on eBay. He is selling 14 broken vintage cameras. I feel for him, but he so sarcastic! I can’t help but laugh! I’m reminded of a set by comedian Patton Oswalt about a very angry magician. In combination of that and reading this, my eyes are tearing!
I really feel for this guy and I hope that he gets some of the money back that he spent on these. Like him, I am not interested in decorative non-working cameras. Otherwise, I’d buy then just to give the poor dude a little sunshine. However, if you want to decorate your place with cameras, the starting bid is a decent price of 10 bux. Come on vintage Etsy sellers! You can click on the link but since I know eventually it won’t be available online once the URL expires, so I am pasting it below..
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Vintage lot of 14 BROKEN cameras for display / repair (ebay item#320552619920)
I have for you a wonderful collection of 14 (fourteen) BROKEN cameras for display. These are the cameras I have bought on E-bay over the years that were advertised as “being my grandfathers” and “just found in closet, but I know nothing about cameras, unsure if works” …and my favorite, “no battery, cannot test”. Lets not forget “minty” and “shutter winds and snaps”
Now listen, I’m not belly-aching here. I knew what I was getting (mostly). Some were in odd lots, although a couple were advertised as working. More on that later.
I am going to explain each of these cameras so there are no surprises.
First - these cameras are BROKEN.
There are 2 exceptions. The polaroid cameras work. Polaroid film is no longer available, but Fuji makes it. I’ll explain the Polaroids later.
Ok - giddy-up…
Photo one consists of a Brownie Hawkeye “flash” model. The shutter works MINTY :), but look close in the photo. There is a chunk of bakelite large enough for a baby mouse to slip into and call home. It’s on the lower left hand corner under the ‘B” in Brownie. Get yourself some gaffers tape and you could use this one. Shutter winds and snaps :)
The second camera in the photo is a “Comet” This is for you if you collect boxes and instructions (included) This camera is in tough shape, perhaps left in on the dash of 1947 Hudson which warped the back (see photo)…or maybe it was used to photograph nuclear testing… This camera is listed for $298.00. ( http://tiny.cc/8lzj4 ) Get yourself a blow torch and with the right skills, reshape this bad larry and make yourself a tidy little profit. Hmmm… on second thought the shutter needs repair as well. Better just enjoy this one by staring at it.
Photo two consists of a Brownie Fiesta. The shutter is broken. It has a flash bulb still stuck in it (unfired) It’s ugly. If it worked I wouldn’t sell it. It is however BROKEN so it’s yours now. This camera seems un-naturally light. Must be some space age plastic from the sixties. I wish my Pentax cameras were this light.
The second camera in the photo makes the Fiesta look good. It reminds me of the head of the robot from that bad 80’s robot movie with that chick from The Breakfast Club. Best movie ever. (the Breakfast Club,not the crappy 80’s movie) What was Kodak engineers smoking when the drew this thing up? I swear on my childrens’ eyes that if this camera worked, I would take it EVERYWHERE. I’d be re-spooling 35mm on the 127 spools so fast making the coolest pictures with the un-coolest camera… I’m actually bummed this one does not work.
This reminds me…before I go any further, NONE OF THESE CAMERAS HAVE SPOOLS. I TOOK THEM OUT AND SINCE THE CAMERAS ARE BUSTED, YOU DON’T NEED THEM. I have working cameras that use these spools, I need them.
OK, Continuing on…
Photo three consists of 2 Starflash cameras. I want a working model. I have personally touched dozens of these in junk shops. They all have the same problem, The shutters stick. One has a strap, one does not. Shoelaces make excellent substitutions for these straps.
The other camera in the photo is an Ansco Cadet Flash. Same condition. The shutter sticks. This one has an “Anscar” lens. I heard it’s made out of melted moonrock, I have also heard it may be plastic. Not sure…
Photo four consists of a Yashica Electro 35. The glass is good. It winds and clicks. The viewfinder is decent. Good luck with the battery for this. I actually think this camera would work with a battery. But since I don’t know for sure, I’m calling it BUSTED, A PAPERWEIGHT.
The second camera in this photo is a PETRI 7s. This one pisses me off the most. I got burned. The photo looks sweet. It was listed as working. I got this thing and the shutter speeds are all over the place. But wait, there’s more. There is so much FUNGUS on this lens it’s funny. I laughed outloud (LOL’d) when I got this. I paid like 8 bucks (but got porked on the shipping) on the last minute or two of the auction, pulled the trigger on it, and shot myself in the foot. Pretty to look at, but I’m not interested in pretty. I want working.
Photo five consists of a Yashica IC. This camera works sweet, great glass, WORKING BATTERY, I was PUMPED when I got this one… until I went to load it. The take up spool is busted. E-Bay FAIL.
The second photo is a Ricoh 500G. I want one of these BAD, BAD, BAD. The battery contact is rotted. I opened it up and played with it a little, but having no camera repair skills, (my skills include like, nunchuck skills, bow hunting skills, computer hacking skills) it was not pretty. Buy these cameras and see for yourself. This camera only uses the battery for the meter so it actually works, good glass/viewfinder. I’ve shot film with this one but I want one with a working meter. You could use your hand held meter and have a party with this one.
Photo six consists of a Polaroid Big Swinger. I was going to keep this one for the name, but I changed my mind. These actually make good pinhole cameras after you rip out the shutter. Basically a light tight box. This camera works fine. Buy some Fuji film and be the talk of the town…or…
The second camera is a Polaroid 104. It works, it smells like an old Polaroid. It has the box. no cold clip. No instructions. As of 2 years ago you could call Polaroid and they would e-mail a Photocopy of the instructions. There was actually a couple old timers there that could answer questions about them. They stopped making the film, those folks are probably gone. (edit: The instructions to the polaroid are RIGHT THERE - see ‘em? Bonus for you !)
The third camera in the photo is a Kodak Brownie MOVIE camera. It has film it it. I’m sure I was not the first person to open it up and expose the film, so don’t buy this expecting to get some awesome footage on this. The whole JFK thing will remain a mystery forever. Not sure if it works, seriously, display only.
Well, That’s it. E-mail me with any questions. I’m weighing this box and will list the actual postage ASAP.
Let’s recap.
Cameras are BROKEN, and if they are not broken, they just suck.
They DO NOT have SPOOLS. I stole them. You CANNOT have them.
Shipping to be posted soon
Buy them for your mantle, display them in your crappy theme restaurant like the movie ‘waiting’, make a robot Halloween costume from the crappy 80’s robot movie mentioned above (now that would be COOL) Resell them for all I care, (but don’t tell people they work) I like to shoot these old cameras. I cannot shoot these. They are BROKEN.
NO CHARGE for the dust.
Minimum bid is 10 bucks. Shipping will be the actual cost. I’ll edit the field after I weigh it. I’m not jacking it up at all. Promise.
PAYPAL ONLY. You want to come pick it up, no problem. Come to Auburn, MA. It sucks just as much as these cameras. I don’t charge a B.S. pickup fee either. What the Hell is that about? Does Wal-mart charge you to pickup razor blades and cat litter? I think not.
Shipping to the lower 48 States only. If you need broken cameras that bad, you need help my friend.
Lastly, NO RETURNS. Once these leave my house they will never come back. It’s not like you can say I was untruthful about these cameras. They are BUSTED.
I paid extra 10 cents for the vintage listing designer. E-bay sucked me in with their fancy graphics. I hope you appreciate it.
Thanks for looking.
My husband asked me, what do you want for mother’s day? So of course I asked for a camera :) I asked for one that I have been wanting for a long time, a Yashica 635. Lucky us, we found someone selling one locally. This is my most expensive camera to date, but to me it was so worth it.
I couldn’t ask for a more perfect camera. It’s in beautiful condition. Looks like it was very well taken care of. The former owner said it belonged to his father and he (his son) just never got around to running a roll of film through it, so it had been in his closet for a long time. It came with an almost complete 35mm adapter set. It’s only missing one piece which at some point I’ll get a replacement. I’m not too concerned with the adapter kit, nice to have however and I’ll explain why. It also came with a lens hood and lens cap (how rare!).
The ground glass is incredibly clear. A little dirty from the inside, which I’ll clean when I get a chance.
I’ve read so many mixed reviews on this camera. A lot of people don’t like it and think it’s over rated for having the ability to also except 35mm film (with adapter kit). With 35mm film it’s supposed to be best used to take portrait photos. I can see it could be a little difficult to do a landscape, but get yourself a tripod and you’d be good to go. Yea it’s cumbersome for 35mm film, even more cumbersome than using an Argus C3 “Brick”, but come on! It’s the only camera that I have ever heard of that can use two different types of film! It’s conveint to me. If I want to shoot film with one of my TLR’s and I don’t have any 120 film, I have to either order it online or go to B&H in Manhattan. While I wait for my 120 film to be delivered or traveling on the way there, I can go to the local drug store and get a roll of 35mm film to shoot in the mean while!
I ran a roll of 120 film through it already. I took photos Garry Winogrand style. I can’t wait until I get it developed. I am just trying to finish a few more rolls in my other cameras to get them done all at once. The weather has started to get nice which means more photography opportunities for me.
Soy Escuchando: Anberlin / Dismantle. Repair.
