Bob checks a Box Camera at a recent fair.
Toronto. Not all of us can or want to collect expensive articles. One obvious way is to get in on things early. When this society was formed, camera collecting was growing in popularity but cameras and old photographs were still relatively cheap. By the time a once inexpensive item passes through umpteen collectors and vendors, each extracting a fee, and worse, once the rarity of the item is known, the price may be beyond what we can or want to pay.
There are many ways to ease this burden. Foremost is the garage sale. People put things out just together rid of them. If there is no camera offered, you can always ask – sometimes to your delight this can result in an unexpected gem.
Things that are not of your interest, or that are not as good looking or functioning can be sold to another collector to offset the cost of your ‘keepsies’. Some collectors select accessories, or ads, or brochures, or books etc. instead of pricier cameras and lenses. Others choose to collect inexpensive camera models or cameras made by manufactures that target the lower end of the market. For example, at left is our late editor, Bob Lansdale, checking out an inexpensive box camera at one of our pre COVID fairs. The little gem was far cheaper than the Leicas and other cameras Bob used professionally.
And of course our fairs, sales, and auctions have goodies for all pocket books and all collectors.
