Beginner A lot of old light meters

[NotAPhotographer]

Hi All

Firstly, as my forum name might giveaway, I'm *not* a photographer - nor do I have much interest in the hobby.

However, my father was - and did.

Now that he's off taking photos upstairs (or downstairs), I've inherited a few boxes of old light meters. At a rough count - 180 of them.

I realise that I could probably sell some of them on eBay. From the random 2 or 3 that I've Googled, they don't seem to be worth huge ££s, and I've got plenty of other things to do with my time! Plus it would seem a bit of a shame to sell them off individually. So I'm wondering whether there are any photography museums who might be interested in a ready-made collection of these things?

I've spent this morning taking photos of them all, and have an Imgur album ready to share. I now just need to find 2 other thing to post about here, then I can share the album link!

Until then, any thoughts or suggestions are most welcome.

 

[Sky]

That's an interesting thing to collect - I've not heard of that one. I look forward to seeing your pictures.

I thought I was bad, but I only have four light meters - maybe five if I can find the missing one . . .

 

[NotAPhotographer]

That's an interesting thing to collect - I've not heard of that one

I suppose they don't take up huge amounts of space, and I'm guessing they were fairly cheap to acquire. And I can see the interest in the old technology and its evolution through the various makes/models, etc.

There are some beautifully made instruments.

 

[Sky]

There are some beautifully made instruments.

I don't doubt it. Hopefully, a few more people will be along shortly to comment so we can get to see the pics sooner rather than later.

Whereabouts are you? You never know, there maybe someone on this forum that would be interested. I'm afraid I don't know of any photography museums that I could recommend.

 

[Box Brownie]

Hi and welcome to TP

It is a good thought to consider donation to a museum......though I would hope that can be done on the basis them being displayed/recognised as "donated in the name of' but that is simply an aside. I hope that there will TPers who suggest some that you could write to?

Edit - this is one potential possibility?

The Royal Photographic Society collection | National Science and Media Museum

In 2016 we announced that the Royal Photographic Society (RPS) collection would transfer to the V&A. Find out more.

www.scienceandmediamuseum.org.uk

Though link refers to the RPS transferring their collection to the Science & Media Museum (within the Victoria & Albert Museum) and likely contained imagery more than technology, there is an email address in the page to perhaps start a conversation with them?

 

[Deleted member 95430]

How old we talking? Any Pentax spotmeters? Asking for a friend...

 

[NotAPhotographer]

It is a good thought to consider donation to a museum......though I would hope that can be done on the basis them being displayed/recognised as "donated in the name of'

I did have the same thought.

I've searched a random few on eBay, and I've not stumbled across any worth £thousands. Although 180 @£20 would probably pay for my old mum's heating for a week or two!

 

[Box Brownie]

I did have the same thought.

I've searched a random few on eBay, and I've not stumbled across any worth £thousands. Although 180 @£20 would probably pay for my old mum's heating for a week or two!

Of course, your choice as to how to proceed?

But if you need the money for your mum.... were in in your shoes, I would talk to a reputable specialist auction house i.e. not one that is a generalist. IMO and AFAIK if you talk to a more general one they should IMO if they "care" redirect you to such a more specialised one.

With 180 of them, your father possibly collected some makes - models in series i.e. almost museum sets now......and just maybe made less valuable (auction or museum donation) by selling off the more interesting and in demand one(s)

Best of luck with whatever you decide to do

PS I am not clued in about eBay but 180 items to be sold and parceled up & posted will be no easy task...all that postage costs and packing materials ~ phew!

 

[NotAPhotographer]

But if you need the money for your mum.... were in in your shoes, I would talk to a reputable specialist auction house i.e. not one that is a generalist. IMO and AFAIK if you talk to a more general one they should IMO if they "care" redirect you to such a more specialised one.

Sorry - the reference to 180 x£20 being enough to heat a house for a couple of weeks was a poor attempt at humour. My mum doesn't need the cash for heating - she can just put another coat on instead.

And you're absolutely right - there's no way I'd want to sell them all individually on eBay. Life is way too short. I just searched a random few on there to get a very limited view on whether this sort of thing was (typically) valued or not.

Anyways, that looks like my intro posts are posted, so here's a link to 180-odd photos of various meters ..

https://imgur.com/a/6YCv2Zm

View: https://imgur.com/a/6YCv2Zm


Again, any thoughts/suggestions are most welcome. There are a couple that I'd probably keep just as curios and because I admire the ingenuity and engineering skill that went in to creating them perhaps 100years ago. If there's a suitable museum that would want and display a collection "in the memory of" then that'd be nice. Otherwise I guess I could create an online museum (ie website) and take some more and better photos of them. I could add precisely no information about any of them though!

 

[Sangoma]

Amazing collection.

I think most potential buyers would be bargain hunters, ie wanting to buy cheap in the hope of reselling for a good amount.

Probably the only way you would get a reasonable sum would be individually on ebay, but if you decide to sell not individually, list them 5 at a time and not too many at a time, though it would take a long time

 

[Plain Nev]

Wow! That's quite a collection. Looks like you've got a few range finders in there too. Some light meters more sought after than others. Gossen and Weston are always good.

 

[Sky]

That certainly is an impressive collection.

I only recognised about thirty of them - they certainly go back a few years don't they?

That's the sort of parcel I would probably buy at an auction knowing that so few people would appreciate them and be unlikely to bid so pick them up for silly money. What you need to do is find someone that already collects them so that you can get a good price. I really wish you the best of luck with that and hope you get a good price for your mum.

As much as hate Faceache and social media in general, I think this is probably going to be the best way to get this collection 'out there' to a potential purchaser unless someone from the forum comes forward.

Good luck.

 

[Box Brownie]

Only viewing on my phone.......what a selection and as you say some look especially old in origin.

It looks like you have a variety of the Weston Master series and one box that held the Weston Master V the little leather case contains the accessory Invercone (you show more pictures just of that item type). If you can tally the meter and the box (perhaps there is a serial number on the box to match the meter with?)

As mentioned you also have some/few range finders.

I can only suggest that you take the time to catalogue them all (Make, model number etc) as that will aid you IMO going forward in whatever decision you decide to take.

 

[troutfisher]

It might be worth contacting the Media Museum in Bradford

National Science and Media Museum | National Science and Media Museum

Exploring the transformative impact of image and sound technologies on our lives. 8 floors of FREE galleries and 3 cinemas including the UK's first IMAX.

www.scienceandmediamuseum.org.uk

Or Giving These a ring

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Accessories

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Best of Luck