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FSA photographer Arthur Rothstein somewhere in St. Louis with two young subjects in an uncaptioned exposure from January 1939. ("Hey Mister, got a light?" "No, Sonny, but I have a light meter.") 35mm negative. View full size.
you can see the same grain elevator as shown in "The Bun Also Rises."
Just a couple of years earlier those kids could have been Joe Garagiola and Yogi Berra.
True, the Leica could be a II or III, though the IIIa and IIIb are more likely. Although the II and III were still manufactured after this lens became available, as less expensive models, they wouldn't generally be the choice for someone who could afford this lens.
BTW, while later series included both "II" and "III" variants (e.g. IIc, IIf, IIg in addition to IIIc, IIIf, and IIIg) there were no IIa or IIb models.
The II, III, IIIa, & IIIb are very, very similar models:
II shutter speeds 1/20-1/500 (top shutter speed dial only)
III shutter speeds 1-1/500 (2 dials)
IIIa shutter speeds 1-1/1000 (2 dials)
111b shutter speeds 1-1/1000 (2 dials) plus close set eyepieces
Probably smoking Coffee Grounds.
The Leica could be a II as easily as a III. The slow shutter speed dial (if any) isn't visible from the rear.
Sweet pre-war Leica with what appears to be the Leitz designed and made Xenon 50mm f/1.5 (branded Taylor-Hobson in the US and UK for trademark reasons).
The body is very likely a IIIb, although the glove and limited resolution prevent clear distinction between a IIIa (wide set VF and RF eyepieces) and a IIIb (close set eyepieces in a common bezel). Both models were in production until the IIIc replaced them later in 1940. Still, my bet in on it being a IIIb.
Wonder what flavor of tobacco that young fella uses in that pipe?
I'd like to say Lewis Hine took it, if for no other reason than to see how he would have captioned it.
And the boys think it's a summer day.
He's got a nice Leica III with the Vidom viewfinder.
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