Restoring a 1962 Yashika-Mat Leather Case

This is the story of my father’s Yashica-mat 124g.

Bought on Friday 28th September 1962 from the Navy, Army and Airforce Institutes Shop (NAAFI) on RAF Gan, Addu Atoll in the southern-most part of the Maldives, 200 miles north of the present day US Naval Support Facility Diego Garcia.

It cost him £14.4s.8d at a time when he was earning £7 a week (and he was charged another £12.2s.10d duty when he returned to the UK at the end of his posting), so in reality cost him almost a full month’s wages.

The camera is in mint condition.

The case less so and in need of some TLC.

The original strap is missing.

This is a short video of me bringing life back to one of Dad’s prized possessions.