wadp1

In the early '70s I worked part-time a Ritz Cameras in downtown Washington, DC. The manager was Joe Perillo, and another salesman was Mike Walker. The best known employee was a German immigrant named Freddie J. Werner, and he was virtually in charge of all Leica equipment sales and service in that store. He was a virtual encyclopedia of Leica information, past and present. He routinely traveled at least annually to Leica headquarters in this country, where they supposedly knew him by name and reputation. When he went, he always took with him at least a few pieces of Leica equipment for repairs that he could not do for one reason or another. Upon his return, usually about a week later, he brought back the repaired equipment, along with spare parts he could use to make repairs he felt competent to do. Freddie was one of those guys people either loved or hated, due to his temperament, which often affected decisions about whose repairs he would accept, and even who he would sell (especially used equipment) to. I have often wondered what happened to Freddie and his family. Did anyone else out there know this man?

riderxlx Loc: DFW area Texas

Well today if he is still alive, he’s probably as old as Methuselah.
I hope you find out what happened to him.
Bruce

anotherview Loc: California

A search online using his full name returned this info: https://www.officialusa.com/names/Freddie-Werner/

Archiefamous Loc: Manhattan

I bought an M5 from Freddie and from that point forward he took care of me. There seemed to be a fude between Freddie and another leica dealer in Bethesda with a marvelous Leica collection

wadp1

Thanks, anotherview, but I don't believe that's him.

wadp1

Archiefamous, it was typical of Freddie, as I knew him, to take care of "his" customers, in both sales and service. He was also a collector, of course, and I had one opportunity to visit his home in suburban DC and see his collection. He also had a beautiful and precocious little daughter, Angela, whom he had begun teaching camera repair. He often brought her to the store, and they often took home equipment she was capable of repairing, as well as some he had to do himself.

gwilliams6

My photography mentor was the late great award winning photojournalist Bernie Boston in Washington D.C. Bernie was an avid Leica user and also a Leica collector.

Bernie used to take me, a young aspiring photojournalist with him on assignments around Washington D.C. Often we would stop in Ritz Camera and Bernie and Freddie would talk Leica and Bernie would buy Leica, one to use, and another to put in his extensive Leica collection. I remember Freddie well. I shopped at Ritz for years when I lived in D.C. I lost touch with him over the years as my photography journey first took me to R.I.T. for photography degree, back to D.C. as briefly an intern at the White House, then to New York Newsday as a staffer and on to the Philadelphia Inquirer Newspaper as a staffer.

Here is info on Bernie Boston who died too young of a rare blood disease. One of his most famous and award winning shots was "Flower Power", which Bernie made with a Leica bought from Freddie. Bernie also used Nikons, but preferred his Leicas. This "Flower Power" photo has been used in countless movies, TV shows, commercials, books and exhibits . This photo is copyright: Bernie Boston.
https://whnpa.org/remembering-bernie-boston/

Cheers and best to you.

.

wadp1

gwilliams6, wow, i'm impressed! Makes me wish I could have at least met Mr. Boston. Thank you very much for your post! I'm saving this!

gwilliams6

Thanks. You are welcome.

Bernie Boston was an amazing man, a great friend, and the best mentor I could have ever had. I owe my photography education and successful career to the guidance and caring of Bernie.

Cheers and best to you.

wadp1

Thanks again!

gwilliams6