So maybe I’ll replace my 1945 Mercury, after all!

Everyone knows all about the shoemaker’s son — but what about the photographer’s daughter?  When I was growing up, everyone in our family helped my father shake trays in our kitchen darkroom.  And when I became a Brownie, my father gave me the official Brownie version of the popular Brownie camera…  And then when I moved into my teens, I was given a 1945 Mercury.  The first camera  with a slick 1/1000 shutter speed.  I still have a photo of a baboon that I shot with my precious camera and brought to life under my father’s watchful eye.  My father had his Leicas and I had my unusual specimen — until  my dad gave it away  — because he thought I wasn’t using it enough.  But I was  —  until the summer I  was away at camp,  just shy of 14,  and my Mercury turned 21 without me.   Oh, that infamous Mercury Battle of 1966:  much drama over how and why it disappeared from my room!  Followed by months of my post-battle whining:  “Where’s my Mercury?”  Well, I think it’s time to look for a replacement — to bring a bit of history back.

camerapedia.wikia.com/wiki/Mercury

rick_oleson.tripod.com/index-25.html

books.google.com/books?id=iicDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA8&lpg=PA8&dq=Mercury+camera,+1/1000+th+shutter+speed&source=bl&ots=PNsAgUOjY5&sig=s62Iqbb1w8v1hpLnp18mOIYOXh4&hl=en&sa=X&ei=5nxpUdTKBYqLiAL9tYGoAQ&ved=0CHcQ6AEwCQ#v=onepage&q=Mercury%20camera%2C%201%2F1000%20th%20shutter%20speed&f=false