Hi All,
Trip Advisor clued us into this museum in historic downtown Staunton. Dave Schwartz has amassed an extraordinary collection of cameras and photo memorabilia.
We expected a lot of cameras and were not disappointed but the real surprise was the historically significant pieces in the collection. Leni Riefenstahl was Hitler's personal cinematographer who recorded the 1936 olympics with this camera!
An elderly Japanese gentleman came into the shop and asked if Dave would be interested in a Japanese aerial photo camera from WW2. In addition to the camera, Dave got two rolls of exposed, undeveloped film. To everyone's amazement, the film showed the attack on Pearl Harbor and the moments just before the sinking of the USS Arizona!!!
This display case has one of every Leica camera ever made. Not nearly as impressive as Dave's story about the Leica Freedom Trail. Ernst Leitz II helped hundreds of Jews escape Germany by hiring them and transferring them to Leica business units in America, France, Britain and Hong Kong. Leitz saved more Jews than Oscar Schindler.
Railroad fans know the name O. Winston Link, the 1950's photographer who captured the final days of steam locomotives.
This classic view camera, owned by the Norfolk & Western Railroad was used by link to take his iconic photo of the big locomotive crossing behind a drive-in-theater.
No camera museum would be complete without a selection of spy cameras like these Minox-B's
No camera museum would be complete without a selection of spy cameras like these Minox-B's
When preparing for his first Star Wars film, George Lucas needed a silver handle with a light that his special effects artists could enhance into the blade of the light saber. Someone adapted the flash handle of a graphic view camera and Dave has one of the originals.
Dave is an incredible photo historian. From early tin types to the John Wilkes Booth family photo album to Apple Computer's purchase of all of Kodak's patents subsequently used to sue Samsung for Billions!
We had a great time and if you are in the area, check it out. The only down side was that we ran out of time and will leave the pioneer farm for next time.
Love,
Sandy & Carl
Sandy & Carl
Living & Traveling in our Motorhome
Volunteering across America
617-435-8502
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