There are two other slants to this thread.
Back in the early 30's, the only cameras available were black paint models,
chrome was not yet available, like the early Leica and Contax models.
Later in the 30's, the chrome models became all the rage. The black was
still offered, but to a lesser extent. The fine chrome finishes lasted
until the late 50's and early-mid 60's. Black cameras were then brought
out, at least by leica, as Pro models, and now fetch a hefty premium over
the much more numerous chrome models.
Chrome models were then as you describe, typically lesser models, whereas
the black was sold as pro or at least an alternative. We "all" remember
that the OM-1 and OM-2 came in both chrome and black. Sometime in the
80's, it seems that black cameras became the standard, with the odd chrome
model like the OM-4t champagne as the standout. Even Leica went down this
road. The M5 was available in both colors, but the chrome M4-P and M4-2
are very rare. Black was the only M6 from 84 until the early 90's when the
chrome and titanium were introduced.
It seems that cameras, like lots of other electronics, had acquired a
certain amount of fashion. Witness the retro P&S models clad in titanium
skins and selling for big bucks.
Skip
At 1/26/00 10:43 AM -0600, you wrote:
As I recall, back in the "olden" days (i.e. the 70's), a black finished
camera was considered a "pro" rig while the chrome stuff was targeted at
consumers. The same camera painted black could fetch an additional $20
over a chrome body.
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Skip Williams
Westfield, NJ
skipwilliams@xxxxxxxxx
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