A collection of rare cameras built up over the past 50 years by camera collector, Ashley Heuchan, goes to auction in Perth from today.
The collection includes one of the very first Nikon cameras made post-war, as General MacArthur re-engineered the Japanese economy to a peacetime one. It still bears the engraved ‘Made in Occupied Japan’ on its baseplate. Only about 400 ever made it to market from this batch. Another is a production model of the very first 35mm single-lens reflex camera ““ made in Russia by Gomz and dubbed the ‘Sport.’
There are numerous Leicas from 1930 up to the 1980s including two ‘M6’ 1987 ones that are still in sealed boxes. There are a few Leica ‘M’ mount lenses that can still be used on the latest Leica digital cameras.
The auction includes other makes such as Zeiss, Voigtlø¤nder, Canon (also a Made in Occupied Japan model), Rolleiflex and a company called Riken who made a miniature ‘spy camera’ ““ later to be re-named Ricoh.
A 1901 Century Grand wooden plate camera recalls the days when photographers put a dark cloth over their heads.
The first of several auctions of Heuchan’s vast collection starts on December 1 and ends on December 12, the unpacking and grading of the next lot already underway for early 2018.
For details, visit www.collectablecameras4sale.com.
