I love old boxes. In antique shops I can’t resist opening them because I’m always expecting a surprise.Not long ago, I spied a blue painted box on a shelf in a local antique shop. It sat between a basket and syrup bottle, and I carefully lifted it down. Obviously handmade, you could see how it had been nailed carefully together and that small brass hinges held the lid in place.
I opened the box and nestled inside was a well used Agfa box camera. Old and worn, but well-loved, I couldn’t put it back. Its metal front plate wore its scratches proudly.
Knowing that someone loved his camera enough to make a storage box to keep it safe, convinced me to take it home. It made me think about the cameras I value and while I’ve never attempted to build anything for them, I do try to care for them .I have taken a number of falls because I held the camera up high,letting my body take the impact, and I have a number of scars to prove it. The camera from the blue box feels good in the hands, and the box is perfectly proportioned to the camera with no wasted space.
Although, I’m not sure that I’ll be shooting with it (unless I make one of the black tubes to shoot through the lens with my DSLR), it sits near my computer in my studio and reminds me to appreciate its story.I silently promise its former owner that I’ll care for it and keep it safe.
November 13th, 2012 at 10:14 am
YES!
November 13th, 2012 at 11:09 am
What a fabulous find! A keeper for sure! Congrats on your find. Robyn
November 13th, 2012 at 1:51 pm
Thanks, Robyn! It’s why I keep junking, you’ll never know what treasure will appear.Thanks for commenting.
November 13th, 2012 at 12:12 pm
Great images and yes, what a great find! 🙂
November 13th, 2012 at 1:52 pm
Thank you! You gotta love surprises! Thanks for stopping by.
November 13th, 2012 at 2:00 pm
No worries! 🙂
November 13th, 2012 at 4:00 pm
Stuff like the Agfa always catch my eye at local sales … I try not to drag much of it home … but some of it is so darn interesting … it’s got character … not like the new stuff manufacturers turn out nowadays. One of my favorite activities is restoring old stuff. Once we purchased an aged cream separator – getting the old things up and running again can have its rewards. Are you sure the Agfa isn’t in working order? Does it take 120 film? 2.25 X 2.25? I’m sure you can still get it. What a wonderful thing it would be to post some images taken with it. There … as if you didn’t have enough to do … that’s your assignment … post a photo taken with the aged camera! D
PS: Nice photos … as usual.
November 13th, 2012 at 9:40 pm
It probably does take 120. I haven’t checked to see if it works. It’s been several years since I’ve shot film with my $2.00 Diana. If I get the chance I’ll have to try it out. Cream separators are beyond my expertise. Thanks for visiting.
November 13th, 2012 at 5:17 pm
Whether it works or not it’s fun to own and keep, nicely treated images too 🙂
November 13th, 2012 at 9:41 pm
Thanks, Paul! It was fun to find it and I do love it.
November 14th, 2012 at 9:28 am
I simply love this box and camera. My mother-in-law is no longer able to live alone. In going thru her things I found a small metal Tetley tea box & a very small paper box brightly colored that I believe her brother may have brought from India in WWII.
November 14th, 2012 at 9:02 pm
That is such a wonderful thing to find. So very special! Thanks for visiting!
January 20th, 2013 at 2:57 pm
Reblogged this on leafstrewngirl and commented:
Beautiful “snapshot” of a lovely story.
January 20th, 2013 at 4:04 pm
Your work is very creative and full of thought.