Are you still truly enjoying your collection of photographic kit? A story . . .

AnalogueWendy

AnalogueWendy

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No - don't worry. I don't want to buy it (well not ALL of it). It's just that a post by @Ian Grant seemed to deserve a longer explanation. Here's the story . . .

When our father died my sister and I inherited a medium sized, neglected collection of cameras and 'photophernalia' built by our parents beginning in the mid 1960s. They were both photographers. Mum ran a small studio and I learned basic dark-room technique with her. Dad's interest was more technical.

We grew up around this stuff, handling cameras and kit, intrigued by the intricacies of the C19 cameras, and we both still take LOTS of photographs. There are many stories in our collective archives, together with lots of knowledge, memories and some very unusual smells!

We knew that one day the 'collection' would be ours. Sadly there was nothing we could do to prepare for this while our parents were alive. Unlike most of you they did not actively use any of the kit they had collected and by 2000 it had all been packed away for a house move. Ultimately, we inherited a huge amount of stuff, including a few true historical gems, at a time when we were bereaved and had young children and very busy lives. The collection our parents had so enjoyed creating was more of a burden to us than a joy.

After cataloguing and photographing everything we invited family and friends to visit while it was all on display for the first time in many years. We talked with the major auction houses and we both took some pieces that we could enjoy immedately. Then we packed it all away in 17 large boxes to be stored until we could manage it all in better order.

Three years later I returned to the UK and those boxes re-appeared. The market for photographica was quiet. Neither of us had space for, or compelling interest in, quite that many historical cameras and we realised that, while piecemeal sales could be worthwhile, the process would become a full-time job. I put all the cameras on shelves for a few weeks to remind myself how they all worked, and why they were so fascinating. Finally a specialist auction house collected most of the boxes and my family reclaimed our small living space. Hopefully some of you are now using equipment bought from SAS in 2010.

I kept the few cameras I thought I might use and that's why I'm now here, collecting advice and sometimes extra bits of kit from knowledgeable enthusiasts. It's quite strange to be looking for things I probably once owned. At the same time it a huge relief, and a useful discipline, to only collect what I know I will use. I'm enjoying my cameras again, bringing them back into use (with huge thanks to Ian Grant for his amazing help with my TP reflex) re-learning old skills and discovering new ones. I know I did not keep all the 'right' bits of photophernalia, and I miss a few cameras that were old friends too, but I'm enjoying myself. Plus I'm helping the next generation learn and enjoy analogue photography without worrying that they will inherit a problem. That feels good.

This is why Ian credited me with encouraging his 'massive clear-out'. If other members of this forum are reaching an age where legacy and inheritance might be on your mind I hope this story will encourage you too. Do enjoy your photographic kit actively and then move along anything that is sitting in boxes and not receiving proper attention or enjoyment. Happily there is a whole new generation discovering what are now called 'alternative processes' and they will relish and maybe even use your neglected treasures.
 
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I inherited all my dad's cameras etc and for years they sat in a cupboard until recently when I also had a big sort out. I didn't stick these and all the cameras I have collected on Ebay, instead I donated them to the Disabled Photographers society who will sell them at the photoshow in Birmingham to raise funds for the charity. I'm sure I still have a few bits and bobs that will turn up and no doubt they will go the same way. The rest I still use and I've left them in my will to go the same way
 
Rickystyx said:
I inherited all my dad's cameras etc and for years they sat in a cupboard until recently when I also had a big sort out. I didn't stick these and all the cameras I have collected on Ebay, instead I donated them to the Disabled Photographers society who will sell them at the photoshow in Birmingham to raise funds for the charity. I'm sure I still have a few bits and bobs that will turn up and no doubt they will go the same way. The rest I still use and I've left them in my will to go the same way
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Brilliant idea! Thank you so much for adding this here.
 
Thanks for posting this thread, Wendy. A bit of background, I met Wendy a few weeks ago while passing through Oxford, and dropping off some parts for her TP Ruby reflex. Over tea/coffee we had a discussion about using vintage cameras, and also the implications of having a large collection of cameras and associated paraphernalia. What happens to it, ultimately, something my sister has asked me.

My wife liked photography, she'd taken darkroom courses in Istanbul, but was largely a 35mm C41 shooter when we met. She insisted on having vintage/antique cameras on display, even finding them to but at flea markets.

Meanwhile, my problem was buying job lots, so a nice wood & bras camera needing very little work, and maybe two or three more were thrown in the same box needing far more work, but the whole package dirt cheap. But there was another side, my wife's health was deteriorating, I became a full time palliative carer. A year later, I've just brought all my equipment I kept in Turkey back to the UK, I did leave a Coronet and a 3a Autographic.

I had realised before speaking to Wendy that I'd need to do this, but it needs a change in mindset. Let the right other people enjoy the equipment now. It's a lesson to be learnt.

In the past I have given away some equipment, mainly 35mm and early digital, to someone who would DIY repair it, more recently I've been passing items to an MS sufferer who likes the challenge of fixing cameras, to the extent I actually buy broken cameras for him to fix.

Wendy's story though is one all our descendants could face, a mass of equipment, and what to do with it, what is worth keeping and who has it. And then it's unlikely they'll realise which items are particularly valuable,

I remember not so long ago a superb website, a collector of early wood & brass cameras, a very detailed website. He passed away and his collection was sold at auction for peanuts, items selling for less than he'd have bought them

Ian
 
It isn't easy if it is your own collection of stuff but it can be more difficult wuth your relatives things as well. I couldn't bring myself to sell my dad's or my grandparent's cameras because of the memories and the thought that they would go for nothing. I gave some of my cameras to family members who didn't have cameras as good but the other things meant something to me. The chance to give them to a charity that has helped me get back into photography seemed like a good choice and felt like the equipment was going somewhere where it would help others too. It also meant that I had another gap to put something else in on the shelf which just happened to be another camera but that's one they will have to wait for :0)
 
AnalogueWendy said:
No - don't worry. I don't want to buy it (well not ALL of it). It's just that a post by @Ian Grant seemed to deserve a longer explanation. Here's the story . . .

When our father died my sister and I inherited a medium sized, neglected collection of cameras and 'photophernalia' built by our parents beginning in the mid 1960s. They were both photographers. Mum ran a small studio and I learned basic dark-room technique with her. Dad's interest was more technical.

We grew up around this stuff, handling cameras and kit, intrigued by the intricacies of the C19 cameras, and we both still take LOTS of photographs. There are many stories in our collective archives, together with lots of knowledge, memories and some very unusual smells!

We knew that one day the 'collection' would be ours. Sadly there was nothing we could do to prepare for this while our parents were alive. Unlike most of you they did not actively use any of the kit they had collected and by 2000 it had all been packed away for a house move. Ultimately, we inherited a huge amount of stuff, including a few true historical gems, at a time when we were bereaved and had young children and very busy lives. The collection our parents had so enjoyed creating was more of a burden to us than a joy.

After cataloguing and photographing everything we invited family and friends to visit while it was all on display for the first time in many years. We talked with the major auction houses and we both took some pieces that we could enjoy immedately. Then we packed it all away in 17 large boxes to be stored until we could manage it all in better order.

Three years later I returned to the UK and those boxes re-appeared. The market for photographica was quiet. Neither of us had space for, or compelling interest in, quite that many historical cameras and we realised that, while piecemeal sales could be worthwhile, the process would become a full-time job. I put all the cameras on shelves for a few weeks to remind myself how they all worked, and why they were so fascinating. Finally a specialist auction house collected most of the boxes and my family reclaimed our small living space. Hopefully some of you are now using equipment bought from SAS in 2010.

I kept the few cameras I thought I might use and that's why I'm now here, collecting advice and sometimes extra bits of kit from knowledgeable enthusiasts. It's quite strange to be looking for things I probably once owned. At the same time it a huge relief, and a useful discipline, to only collect what I know I will use. I'm enjoying my cameras again, bringing them back into use (with huge thanks to Ian Grant for his amazing help with my TP reflex) re-learning old skills and discovering new ones. I know I did not keep all the 'right' bits of photophernalia, and I miss a few cameras that were old friends too, but I'm enjoying myself. Plus I'm helping the next generation learn and enjoy analogue photography without worrying that they will inherit a problem. That feels good.

This is why Ian credited me with encouraging his 'massive clear-out'. If other members of this forum are reaching an age where legacy and inheritance might be on your mind I hope this story will encourage you too. Do enjoy your photographic kit actively and then move along anything that is sitting in boxes and not receiving proper attention or enjoyment. Happily there is a whole new generation discovering what are now called 'alternative processes' and they will relish and maybe even use your neglected treasures.
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What a beautiful read Wendy.

I started late with photography, early 30’s and film just over a decade ago. Funny as i have always been around cameras and video cameras. This has made me realise I can let go of my Nikon f Apollo that I don’t have use for anymore as I prefer a wider aspect ratio like 6x12 and hate the time it takes me to finish one roll. Like you stated another person can explore new possibilities of expression.

Appreciate the read. Great community here. Glad I joined.
 
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Schools often need cameras and darkroom equipment for their students who can't afford them.
 
It’s all true, the look on. My daughters face when I say one day all this will be yours is ah well a good reason to try to redistribute what has been gathered , and that does not always go to plan so I think the answer is to keep thinking about what you use or realistically will use and keep in touch with like minded/interested people.
 
Having no children, my sister says what do I expect hers to do with everything.

The answer is twofold, downsizing, keeping what's nice and more collectible, or useable, and ultimately easy to sell. In terms of the latter leaving details of the items, value, and where/how to sell them. I know some of her 5 children would like a wood & brass camera, 2 have used LF in the past.

I have given items in the past to community darkrooms, colleges, etc.

Ian
 
Ian Grant said:
Having no children, my sister says what do I expect hers to do with everything.

The answer is twofold, downsizing, keeping what's nice and more collectible, or useable, and ultimately easy to sell. In terms of the latter leaving details of the items, value, and where/how to sell them. I know some of her 5 children would like a wood & brass camera, 2 have used LF in the past.

I have given items in the past to community darkrooms, colleges, etc.

Ian
Click to expand...
Like you mention in another thread, I've been trying to collect together 'nice sets' of gear that will be easier to sell in the end. For example in smaller formats I have a Mamiya RB 67 with two backs, three lenses, waist level and prism finders and close up tubes ... a sort of 'back in the day' kit. I've done likewise for my Kodak Specialist and indeed my Nikon F4 35mm kit - oh and now will be working on my Kodak D2 . Each has a shelf in my display cabinet or a dedicated camera bag. I pretty much use everything on rotation, but am resisting buying much more - using a 'one in one out' rule :)
 
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