[Leica] Leaving St. Louis ... old times

[leicam4pro at yahoo.com (John Biava)]

That guy in Clayton was probably Oscar at O.J.'s Photo.  Oscar had several 
experienced photographers on his staff.  One of my friends bought a lot of 
his stuff there.  I preferred St. Louis Photo and Jefferson Camera.
   
  St. Louis Photo had several people who were very knowlegable about 
darkroom matters and equipment. 
   
   Bob, the owner of Jefferson Camera, was a long time Leica dealer and 
acknowleged by many as the areas Leica expert.  He did a lot of business 
with the Doctors, hospitals, and university people.  After his death his 
sons took over the business.  I think they may have moved to a different 
location, but I have not been back there for a long time.
   
  There was another camera store that was in a large drugstore on either 
Brentwood Blvd. or Big Bend.  But I no longer remember the name.  I had put 
a deposit down on a pair of Nikkor LTM lenses and he sold them to someone 
else anyway.  that was the end of my patronage there.

biner <mark@rabinergroup.com> wrote:
  


On 4/11/07 9:25 PM, "John Biava" typed:

> Did you ever get to the old Cyranno's ? It was the hot place for the non
> drinking crowd in the '60s. Maybe even earlier. But it was ruined by the
> time I got back from Viet Nam.....
> 
> Some of my other haunts were St. Louis photo Supply, Jefferson Camera ( bob
> has passed away ), and Schiller's. I haven't been back for some time now. I
> know most things have changed.
> 
> Daniel Ridings wrote:
> Photo Phreak wrote:
>> ... nor did I use one when working toll switching at St. Louis 1 and 2. 
>> But I
>> left there in 1973.
>> 
> 
> Three years before me. I left St. Louis in 1976.
> 
> Still miss it, but that's probably old sentimentality setting in.
> 
> Daniel
> 

I hung out in Cyranno's from around 1972 to 1975. And the camera stores of
course. And almost got a LTM from that guy in Clayton.
I lived in Old Orchard in Webster Groves across the street from The
Spectrum. I went to Webster College and took courses at Washington
University. St. Louis Rocks. They have great trains now and we had a LHSA
meeting there Oct 23, 2003 I may have helped talk them into it. Loved taking
the train from the airport to the hotel for a buck and a half.
That's what I call a civilized society.
One part Chicago one part New Orleans there's no way of beating that.
Once you can find your way to the river in the blazingly hot summers.
Its about 45 minutes south. The Missouri river I think. One out of 3 people
drown in it so its inner tubes only. Or certain death.

Mark Rabiner
8A/109s
New York, NY

markrabiner.com



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