The following is a birthday wish written for the 20th
birthday of Leica # 1048416 in January 1982.
It would be interesting to know how the 50th turned out to
be.
H A P P Y T W E N T I E T H
By Bob Nandell
Staff Photographer Des Moines
Register
January, 1982, marks a 20th
birthday. No, it’s not a birthday for
one of my children. It’s a 20th
birthday for No. 1048416.
Leica M No. 1048416 arrived
at the camera shop as ordered in January 1962, with a 50mm Elmar attached. Since then, No. 1048416 has produced pictures
for five different newspapers. For
several lonely years it was its owner’s only camera. For one year it worked for the owner’s wife,
producing pictures for a small weekly newspaper. It has had a dozen different lenses attached
to it during the 20 years, but usually the tiny Elmar stayed in place.
Only once did it ever visit a
repair shop. The knocks and bumps of
covering urban riots in 1967 caused its rangefinder to need adjusting.
Right now it looks a bit
tired. The chrome finish is worn shiny,
a bit of brass is showing through, and some of the leather is held in place
with super-glue. Black tape still
protects some of the corners, though.
But when No. 1048416 is
plucked from its place in the gadget bag, and its film transport handle is
turned, it still feels new. It still has
the compact, solid feel that enables it to pick off pictures at 1/15 sec., or
blink into a sunset at 1.100 sec.
Retirement? Out of the question!
Sure, it has an M4-2 to keep
it company now, and sometimes No. 1048416 has to share bag space with a big,
black single lens reflex Leica, but its place has been permanently earned.
Whether it is on braking news
events or taking pictures in the backyard, No. 1048416 still handles a hefty
workload.
After all, it still delivers
a 100% effort without a complaint.
Other articles by Bob Nandell:
Other articles by Bob Nandell:
Other articles by Bob
Nandell:
THE 90 ELAMR THAT NOBODY
WANTED
ARE LEICAS TOUGH?
LEICA M2 No 1048416 - HAPPY
50TH BIRTHDAY
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