Weegee by Weegee - for Fred Spira

[bmattock]

This belongs in a museum:

eBoy Fred Spira / Weegee Autographed Book (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=29223&item=6935893396&rd=1)

I'm not a collector of autographs - I'd rather just have a copy of the book and read it. But I know of Weegee, and I know of Fred Spira (Spiratone). In fact, I've been doing some digging recently to find out who owns the Spiratone name - you never know, they might sell it cheap (I did find it, I just have to talk to their lawer of record).

Anyway, this is a real blast from the past - and hey, it's even appropriate - Weegee's camera was a rangefinder. A great big rangefinder.

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

[GeneW]

Nice find! I'm not a book collector, but if I were, this one would be great.

Weegee had an enormous impact on what photography could do. And Fred Spira -- you're right -- a blast from the past. Remember going through all the Spiratone ads looking for neat stuff? I believe he was an inventor and Spiratone offered stuff you'd never find anywhere else, and at low prices.

For years I used a Spiratone 28mm screwmount lens on my Pentax. I think it cost me around $50 new. Got some surprisingly good shots with it. Actually I still have it, but the aperture ring is stuck and won't budge when you try to turn it.

Thanks for the memories, Bill!

Gene

[taffer]

Thanks for the link Bill !

[back alley]

great book...if only i could read...wait, i bet it's got pictures!

if i remember correctly, spiratone had a store in flushing, n.y.c. that i would go into when i was first getting into photography.
who knew i was viewing history?

joe

[doubs43]

Mr. Fellig..... Photographer for the Mob! As I recall, he had a two seater coupe and a police radio receiver in the trunk. He was quite a character and showman and, of course, a superb photographer. While he took many grizzly pictures of Mob "hits", the picture that has stuck in my mind is the bedraggles street woman looking (glaring may be a better word) at the well-dressed Society Woman as she passed.

Both my father and I purchased Spiratone items years ago and I may still have a piece or two around somewhere. Always good value for the money.

The book would be worth having.

Walker

[Gordon Coale]

Here is a page about the making of that image. (http://www.icp.org/weegee/weegee09.html) And a nice site about Weegee (http://www.icp.org/weegee/). He used a *big* rangefinder.

[doubs43]

Gordon, that's the one! Thanks for the links. WeeGee was an interesting character who understood the importance of showmanship and being a "character". He also knew the value of his reputation and worked to keep it in front of the public.

Walker