Blast from the past: Cleaning out our closet, I found this Nikon camera case from the 1970’s. Fits a camera, flash and three lenses that screw into the base on F mounts, plus film. The...

Robertl594 Loc: Bloomfield Hills, Michigan and Nantucket

Cleaning out our closet, I found this Nikon camera case from the 1970’s. Fits a camera, flash and three lenses that screw into the base on F mounts, plus film. The leather has crackled. Used to love this bag. Traveled with it extensively.

Ava'sPapa Loc: Cheshire, Ct.

I guess there are advantages to pleather. How was the flight(s) on the Concorde?

E.L.. Shapiro Loc: Ottawa, Ontario Canada

That's a gret case for shooting street photography in a dangerous neighborhood. You just dress down and nobody will bother you to attempt to steal your gear. Just make sure that any of that simulated leather stuff doesn't chip off and get into your equipment.

My old cases are still in good cosmetic shape but my skin is beginning to look like that case! I better get some moisturizer!

wrangler5 Loc: Missouri

I had a similar design case for my Nikon F, with the 3 lens mounts at the bottom and a holder for the body. It was a clamshell offered by Spiratone, that I bought in about 1970. It was OK for moving a camera and lenses, but I don't recall it having any place to put extra film, filters, etc., so I didn't use it for very long.

Robertl594 Loc: Bloomfield Hills, Michigan and Nantucket

Ava'sPapa wrote:

I guess there are advantages to pleather. How was the flight(s) on the Concorde?

Loved Concorde. Flew it many times. Never got boring and met some pretty incredible people on it. Sat next to Goldie Hawn, Sydney Pollack, Terence Stamp, and Maureen McGovern. My father became good friends with Luciano Pavarotti although I was not on that flight.

Interesting fact, due to friction on the exterior, even though it flew at 60,000', the plane stretched and shrank 9" per flight. Could be visibly seen on the interior of the plane, in the galley where the countertop was tight up against the wall while on the ground, a gap developed wide enough to fit your hand during flight. Fascinating engineering feat.

We also auctioned off all of the Concorde parts and memorabilia for BA when Concorde finally shut down.

Really miss that plane.

Ava'sPapa Loc: Cheshire, Ct.

Robertl594 wrote:

Loved Concorde. Flew it many times. Never got bor... (show quote)

You were truly fortunate.

Robertl594 Loc: Bloomfield Hills, Michigan and Nantucket

Ava'sPapa wrote:

You were truly fortunate.

Yes, I was! Very grateful as well.

dennis2146 Loc: Eastern Idaho

Robertl594 wrote:

Cleaning out our closet, I found this Nikon camera case from the 1970’s. Fits a camera, flash and three lenses that screw into the base on F mounts, plus film. The leather has crackled. Used to love this bag. Traveled with it extensively.

That is a pretty neat bag. I have one exactly like it even to the cracking on the outside that came with a photography kit given to me by a friend who is an Army Colonel. A friend of his was left the camera bag and a like new Nikon F2AS with three lenses. He had no use for any of it. My friend bought him dinner in trade for the bag and lenses. While the bag looks just like yours the camera and lenses are close to new. This was just a few months ago. I have found the bag with lenses is one of the heaviest but sturdiest bags I have ever used. I no longer carry the bag but still use the F2 and lenses.

Dennis

StanMac Loc: Tennessee

The 70s saw the demise of actual leather being used in camera and gear cases. I have some camera and lens cases from the late 60s that with some leather cleaning were made to look near new.

Stan

Morry Loc: Palm Springs, CA

Robertl594 wrote:

Cleaning out our closet, I found this Nikon camera case from the 1970’s. Fits a camera, flash and three lenses that screw into the base on F mounts, plus film. The leather has crackled. Used to love this bag. Traveled with it extensively.

Too bad no one seems to make a case this style any longer with bayonet mountings to hold lenses, etc. Many years ago Leica used to have a similar case to your old Nikon one. Today if you could find one in usable condition it would probably sell for a high price as a collector item

Canisdirus

I have my grandads camera case from the early 60's...zipper is broken...but I have kept it oiled all these years...looks great.
Just not as functional as my newer bags...or I'd use it.

If you keep them oiled...they last and last and last.

Robertl594 Loc: Bloomfield Hills, Michigan and Nantucket

dennis2146 wrote:

That is a pretty neat bag. I have one exactly lik... (show quote)

Wow! That’s amazing. I figured that there must be others out there. Hearing that yours is in the same condition comforts me a bit in that it was nothing I did, but the life of the materials they used to make it. Trying to figure out how to repair it. Still thinking.
Wondering if I can still use the triple bayonet mount base in something else, but also less important now that I’ve gone mirrorless. Although I do have dozens of F mount lenses, I do have two FTZ adaptors. Guess I need one more. Haha.

I did find in mine, my old Nikon FE in it.
Thanks for sharing!

Robertl594 Loc: Bloomfield Hills, Michigan and Nantucket

Canisdirus wrote:

I have my grandads camera case from the early 60's...zipper is broken...but I have kept it oiled all these years...looks great.
Just not as functional as my newer bags...or I'd use it.

If you keep them oiled...they last and last and last.

Yep. Didn’t think of that. Forgot about it for years as it was buried in my closet.

Canisdirus

Robertl594 wrote:

Yep. Didn’t think of that. Forgot about it for years as it was buried in my closet.

In my case...it would have mildewed as well...double trouble.

sippyjug104 Loc: Missouri

Robert, a great find in your collection of treasures along with the memories it brings to you.