[Leica] Perrin Leather Bags from the 1940/50ties

[mvolo at acpub.duke.edu (Michael Volow)]

I still use a small Perrin bag. It holds my M6 vertically (with up to 90
Tele-Elmarit and shade attached) in a snap-in insert in the right-hand end.
Since I work with leather I created another insert for the other end that
holds two other lenses (35/2.0 and 50/2.0 DR). Below this insert is my
21/2.8 and a small flash. A lot of gear for such a small case. In the past I
created alternative snap-in inserts for Nikon gear. Very easy to customize
because it's leather. I also added some elastic loops to the inside of the
top to hold accessories.

However, the leather offers very little shock absorption.

One weak point is the strap (leather with fiber backing that eventually
cracks); and the strap attachments (a single large rivet). I have replaced
both of these.

I know of no modern cases that have the advantage of holding the camera body
vertically, in my mind a very space-efficient position.

----- Original Message -----
From: "Jim Hemenway" <Jim@hemenway.com>
To: "Leica Users Group" <lug@leica-users.org>
Sent: Monday, June 27, 2005 9:03 PM
Subject: Re: [Leica] Perrin Leather Bags from the 1940/50ties


> Ruben:
>
> I bought a Perrin Sportsman 501 along with my first Pentax, an H1a in
> 1965.  It's a tough case made of thick Top Grain Cowhide and it has
> stood up to the intervening years very well.  It now contains my Rollei
> 35, a Minox 35GT and dedicated flash.  On occasion I've used it to carry
> my Sl and and extra lens.
>
> I've seen some Perrin's which were really beat to hell but the only part
> that I have had to replace was the zipper "pull".
>
> Jim
>
>
> Ruben wrote:
>
> > Dear LUGers, MUGers and Rolleiusers/listers
> >
> > Recently I stumbeled over a small lovely photobag from California US
made of some real nice Leather - natural tan - probably from about 1953-57
inside it the name Perrin Contour is printed - it holds 2 Leica M bodies
with a 50 and a 35 mounted and one 90 mm in between.
> >
> > To day I got a Perrin model 205 probably 1950something to or perhaps
earlier- I expect it to hold 3 M bodies or pehaps a rolleiflex and 2 M
bodies.
> >
> > These Perrin bags in natural tan thick leather from California are so
much nicer than modern bags - does anyone know the hisory of Perrin and does
anyone still use them - it is a real pleasure to pick up a M from the Perrin
Contour bag - anyone that have not tried one should do so - and some of you
guys that are somewhat older than me probably have one lying around in the
basement - blow away the dust and start using it again - and if you have a
fun story about a Perrin bag please share.
> >
> > O by the way - they are so retro smart that my "very into fashion"
teenage daughters would giver the right arm to have one - I really have to
be carefull not to find my Leica on the floor with a "sorry Dad " note :-)
> >
> > best
> > Ruben
>
>
>
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