I liked the way our assignment was put across today, because I’m definitely one of those people for whom “treasure” is not about material value, for me it’s all about the emotional attachment.
When my late father died he had two wrist watches; one was an Omega and it was quickly claimed by my materialistic young sister, not I suspect for any emotional attachment but purely for what the thing was worth! The other old valueless watch suited me fine, it doesn’t work any more, but it’s the watch that I can remember Dad wearing when I was very young and without the encumbrance of that annoying younger sibling!! Now here’s a funny thing, I couldn’t find that old watch today! You know that feeling? It’s somewhere safe, but for the life of me I can’t remember where!
In that case I turned to another piece of treasure and in a way its something much more suited to Photo101, again the link is with my late father, but this time it’s his old camera.
This is an Ensign and Ross Selfix 820 Special dating from 1953.
Ensign and Ross Selfix 820 Special.
For the technical, it takes 120 roll film has a f3.8 10.5mm Ross Xpres lens which will stop down to f22. Shutter speeds range from one second up to 1/250th second. It has a part leather-covered body and leather bellows.
To my knowledge Dad only ever shot back and white film through this camera. As a result I thought that a couple of monochrome close-ups were appropriate!
On the open market, I don’t think that this camera is worth very much, but to me it’s priceless.
I believe that Dad bought it new, no one else has ever used it and at least whilst I’m alive no-one else ever will, it’s too emotionally precious for me to see that happen.
I hope you understand.
Catch you soon.
Dookes
Hogrider Dookes 
Reblogged this on dabsterdoughnut.
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Wow, amazing. What a wonderful treasure from your father.
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Thank you and yes one of many wonderful treasures from Dad all of which are of totally emotional value rather than material.
When I hold that old camera I think that it is amazing that only his finger ever pressed the shutter to make a photograph.
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This is the best kind of treasure. And nice photos, too!
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Thank you, I think so too.
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Beautifully engineered, such precision and your images capture this perfectly. Do you ever use the camera?
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Yes it is a beautiful thing, but no I’ve never taken a picture with it. I feel that it was my father’s and as such I want to keep it special, so that only he ever took photographs with it.
I have other film cameras of my own and if I ever feel the urge for “old fashion” photography I can use those, they’re not such a large format as the Ensign though.
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Very Nice! I love old cameras, I have way too many (or not quite enough). Have you taken any pictures with it?
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No, I’ve never used it. Have a look at my reply to Hannah.
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Sorry, yes I see now. Apologies I didn’t see the other comments on the view I had.
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No worries!👍
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Wonderful treasures to have D and love your shots of the camera 🙂
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understand totally. thank you for sharing that treasure
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My pleasure!
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I’m so glad that you have never used your dad’s camera. Every time you hold it, you will remember the pleasure he got from using it with the added knowledge that he was the only one. Making your images in monochrome and not colour is a fine tribute to your father and adds value to the great tale you have told us here. Thanks.
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My pleasure.
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I love the tribute to your dad’s camera. The photos were perfect for the topic. I have my dad’s old video camera. It’s probably from the 60s or 70s. Like you said the memories are what make it priceless to me. 🙂
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Thank you.
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sometimes the value is the backstory and history of the object 🙂
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