Specialist Photographic Shops in Leeds

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BLAKEY
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Joined: Mon 24 Mar, 2008 4:42 am

Re: Specialist Photographic Shops in Leeds

Post by BLAKEY »

Incidentally, plenty of info and pictures of Rigonda products on the Internet - the superb "Symphony" model that I mentioned was superceded by a rather more compact and certainly less impressive looking model called "Bolshoi" - no doubt though of a similar splendid performance.
There's nothing like keeping the past alive - it makes us relieved to reflect that any bad times have gone, and happy to relive all the joyful and fascinating experiences of our own and other folks' earlier days.

Freeman
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Joined: Fri 22 Jul, 2016 9:38 pm

Re: Specialist Photographic Shops in Leeds

Post by Freeman »

My business was camera shops, the first being in Brighouse (1962) then we opened in Leeds at 54 Albion Street (Bentleyfilms, Ltd) which was in the YMCA Building at the corner with Albion Place. When the building was redeveloped we relocated further down Albion Place and were there until I retired in 1999.

I was already very familiar with 54 Albion Street as I joined George Childe Ltd at that shop, age 17 in 1955 and learned the trade before opening my own shop in Brighouse. In 1970 Childe's went bust and I took over the shop (but not the business) and it became Bentleyfilms. My sister-in-law Lorna Miller managed the shop.

We also had a shop in Kirkgate, Bradford, for a while in the 1970s which was a combined photographic retailer and model railway shop.

They were great days, eventually killed of course by the digital revolution!

warringtonrhino
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Joined: Sat 18 Feb, 2012 2:31 pm

Re: Specialist Photographic Shops in Leeds

Post by warringtonrhino »

Slightly off topic however you might be able to help.
I am trying to find out the angle of view of an 'old' camera.
I have a photograph taken in 1920, probably by an amateur, probably not using a special camera or lenses.
The angle of view will help me calculate the distance from the camera to the subject.

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tyke bhoy
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Location: Leeds/Wakefield
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Re: Specialist Photographic Shops in Leeds

Post by tyke bhoy »

warringtonrhino wrote:Slightly off topic however you might be able to help.
I am trying to find out the angle of view of an 'old' camera.
I have a photograph taken in 1920, probably by an amateur, probably not using a special camera or lenses.
The angle of view will help me calculate the distance from the camera to the subject.
He is talking about this Image on this thread http://secretleeds.com/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=6081 To remain on topic here can any answers be added to the thread I linked to please.
living a stones throw from the Leeds MDC border at Lofthousehttp://tykebhoy.wordpress.com/

Spoff
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Joined: Mon 21 Feb, 2022 11:44 am

Re: Specialist Photographic Shops in Leeds

Post by Spoff »

I worked at BentleyFilms from 1997-1998 and remember Lorna very fondly, David Butler was there at the same time as I was - fresh faced and just out of school - I learnt a lot working here for around 18 months or so.

I often walk down Albion Place and always remember some very colourful and interesting customers. I unfortunately lost contact with both Lorna and David once the shop sadly closed.

Freeman wrote:
Fri 22 Jul, 2016 9:55 pm
My business was camera shops, the first being in Brighouse (1962) then we opened in Leeds at 54 Albion Street (Bentleyfilms, Ltd) which was in the YMCA Building at the corner with Albion Place. When the building was redeveloped we relocated further down Albion Place and were there until I retired in 1999.

I was already very familiar with 54 Albion Street as I joined George Childe Ltd at that shop, age 17 in 1955 and learned the trade before opening my own shop in Brighouse. In 1970 Childe's went bust and I took over the shop (but not the business) and it became Bentleyfilms. My sister-in-law Lorna Miller managed the shop.

We also had a shop in Kirkgate, Bradford, for a while in the 1970s which was a combined photographic retailer and model railway shop.

They were great days, eventually killed of course by the digital revolution!

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tilly
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Joined: Mon 11 Jan, 2010 2:32 pm

Re: Specialist Photographic Shops in Leeds

Post by tilly »

Welcome to S/L Spoff.
No matter were i end my days im an Hunslet lad with Hunslet ways.

Spoff
Posts: 2
Joined: Mon 21 Feb, 2022 11:44 am

Re: Specialist Photographic Shops in Leeds

Post by Spoff »

Thank you, came across this by complete accident, was checking something for my CV so had searched for a former employer, BentleyFilms and this came up! having a nosey around now!

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tilly
Posts: 2209
Joined: Mon 11 Jan, 2010 2:32 pm

Re: Specialist Photographic Shops in Leeds

Post by tilly »

I hope you enjoy the site lots to see.
No matter were i end my days im an Hunslet lad with Hunslet ways.

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