The international photographer (Jan-Dec 1935)

Thirty-two The INTERNATIONAL PHOTOGRAPHER July, 1935 Fun In Ye Camera Shoppe Incorporated From the Paul Perry Color Laboratory and Photographic Supply Store at Manila, P. 1. Business is Good. The Author Business — if any — starts shortly after eight a.m., and on this particular morning I had just opened the store and taken a dollar out of the cash register when the Japanese restaurant man from down the street came rushing in. "Tents fire, tents fire," he shouted as he came through the door. I started for the telephone to call the fire department and he dashed over to the section that held the chemicals and removed a can from the shelf. "How much costing 'tents fire,' please," he asked. Upon examination, I discovered the can he held contained Intensifier, to be used for intensifying negatives. So — I quoted our best possible price and asked: "Why all the hurry?" "Oh, I espraining," he answered. "Last night I putting film in developer and not seeing image making appearances. Looking towards photo book, he saying, using tents fire very good for making images appearing. I trying, thank you," and started for the door, almost knocking over an old lady with two "cute" little children and a dog. "Good morning, madame. What can 1 do for you," I asked. "Well, I'll tell you," she said. "I have a camera my grandmother gave me for a birthday present when I was a little girl. I think we were living in Omaha at the time. It used to take the best pictures in the neighborhood and one time I got a prize from the Youth's Companion for one of my photos." "It has a German lens on it," she continued. "It was so good that I did not turn it in, during the war, when the government asked for all lenses. Were you ever in Omaha?" "No," I replied. "But perhaps you could tell me the name of the company that made the camera." "There is no name on it," she said, "but it is about this large, and the lens is on the front." "Naturally," I said, "but if I knew what kind of a camera it was, I might be able to give you the information you wanted." "I am sure you must know what kind of a camera it is," she continued. "It took such good pictures." "Well, if you could bring it in I would gladly give you any information I could," I said. "Did you wish to sell or trade it?" "Oh no," she said. "I wouldn't think of doing that, but the last time I used it (it must have been fifteen years ago) the pictures did not turn out so good and I thought you might be able to tell me what was wrong with the camera." "Certainly," I replied. "You just bring it in and let me see it. Do you live in the neighborhood?" "Yes, I do," she answered, "but the camera is still in Omaha." Just then the dog started barking at the rear of the store. I mean the dog was in the rear of the store barking. I forgot to mention we had a cat. By the time I got there the two "cute" little children, cat and dog were covered with paint. It took a little while to get them cleaned, but soon they were all on their way. To Omaha, I hoped. A short time later three gentlemen (I hope) came in. You know the kind — they are always in three different places at the same time — well, the stock does not belong to me, but my boss expects us to sell and objects to having it melt away, so to speak. The 'phone would ring. "This is the Terra Belle Studios speaking," said a lady over the wire. "We want 40 lenses right away." "Yes, ma'm," I said. "Will you give me the focal lengths, speeds, make and for what kind of cameras will they be used?" "You have me there," she said. "All the requisition says is : forty lens — rush." "I will have to have additional information before I can fill the order," I explained, "so if you will get it for me I will start getting some of them together for you." We do quite a bit of rental business to the studios and I thought the order was to be used in a photographic store, that was to be photographed at the Terra Belle Studios. Just as I hung up the receiver, the last of the three men went out the door and I think a camera went with them. We will be able to tell when we take inventory, though. I had about twenty-five or thirty nice assorted lenses laid out when the phone rang again. "This is Terra Belle speaking," said a voice. "I have the information for you." "That's fine," I said, as forty lenses is a nice order and Terra Belle will pay — after nine months. "All right, Terra Belle," I said, "I have pencil and paper ready." "Here it is," she said. "One 40 millimeter Astro lens. Stop F 2.3 for Mitchel Camera. "That's all," she said, "and rush it. What is the hourly rental on it, we only want to use it for one scene. "The daily rate is the minimum charge on lenses," I explained, "and that will be one dollar." "Just a moment, please," she said. After a few seconds she came back on the phone and said: "Cancel the order ; we will not shoot the scene," and hung up. Terra Belle is right. Still I was glad I didn't have the forty lenses out of the show case and it wouldn't take long to put 30 of them away. "Ha-ro! Ha-ro," said my friend the restaurant man as he came into the store. "You having lens wit frat feel?" "Flat feet?" I asked with a smile. "No," he said. "Frat feel, frat feel. Like feel of vegetables what not having been planted." "Oh, yes," I said. "I understand. You want a lens with a flat field. Is that right?" "Yes mam," he said. "Dot right, frat feel. You having?" "Yes," I answered. "Here is a nice one, hardly used. Did you wish to buy it?" "No," he replied, "not buying, just asking. Buying package hybow, please." I gave him a package of hypo took his dime and matched the boss for it, and he lost. "Good morning," I said, as the rest of the help came through the door. I knew then it was nine o'clock and time for breakfast and as we expected a busy day I needed some nourishment. So-o-o WHO THAELL SAID I WAS ON A VACATION? Please mention The International Photographer when corresponding with advertisers.