Hi, Finally returned from visiting both my parents and the outlaws (anyone else have to eat two Christmas dinners in one day?) with a jolly super present. A copy of the Army and Navy Stores catalogue for 1939-40.
For those who don't know, this was (is?) an organisation set up in the 1870s to provide basic goods and luxuries to those who became members. It was a kind of co-operative society. Membership was limited to those enlisted in (or otherwise associated to) the British armed forces. This is a 1200 page book (reduced size copy) and has (almost) every conceivable requirement for someone serving, at home or abroad. So I immediately turn to Photography, page 906, to see what's there. No Japanese cameras; Kodak, Voightlander, Ensign, Zeiss (Contax), Agfa Leica, Rollei only. Ensign are lsited as Made in England, Zeiss, Agfa, Rollei and Leica are listed as Foreign but, oddly, Voightlander is not given a production location. Some meters and albums; a couple of tripods. No film, unsuprisingly, as goods were sent wherever the member was on service. As this might involve journeys of some months, through extremes of temperature, it was probably decided that it was an unsuitable product for supply from home. So, this week's starter for 10 points; In 1939, what was the price of a Leica IIIb with Elmar 5cm/f3.5? Answer in real money (pounds, shillings, pence) tomorrow. Anyone get any decent cracker jokes? Best one for me so far is: What do felines sleep on? Caterpillars. Apologies to non-native speakers.... mike
