Leica Prototypes

[gvaliquette]

Someone in Wetzlar just popped up on e-Bay.com offering Leitz/Leica prototype lenses, such as the following examples:

Leitz Leica MR-Telyt-R 8/500 PROTOTYPE lens !! - eBay (item 140228052035 end time May-03-08 17:30:00 PDT)

Leitz Leica APO-Telyt-R 2.8/280 PROTOTYPE lens !! - eBay (item 140228156265 end time May-04-08 05:30:00 PDT)

Leitz Leica Telyt-R 4.8/350 PROTOTYPE lens !! - eBay (item 140228157807 end time May-04-08 05:30:00 PDT)

Does anyone have any further information on this seller? Is (s)he in any way connected with/to Leica Camera?

I do not remember seing this seller anywhere on e-Bay before. Browsing through his e-Bay history, he seems to have been active mostly on the e-Bay.de scene.

Thanks for whatever information you can come up with.

Guy

[rob_x2004]

Dont know. But you are up against the "pro" ebay buyers and sellers by the look of it, with many of the same "people" with bids on all three items.
Anyone serious about getting the item (when it exists) and anyone as experienced as some of hte bidders appear to be, would go in with their maximum bid in the last three seconds, not tickle the price along with days to go.

ps...Also look further than the item bid history and look at the individual bidders "bid history" and "Bid History details". They are all bidding with the same type of vendors and their history is full after only five to seven days often with the same sellers. So if these guys exist they are on line bidding every hour of the day. And could I say they would have to know each other very well by now. Almost a club isnt it.

This certainly does not mean the item does not exist.

And before someone jumps in, the seller number shown in the bidders bid history details only relate to that bidder. Bidder1 seller number 9 doesnt equal bidder2 seller number 9

[luigi bertolotti]

Netopil is a well known name in the world of Leica historician; I think he's currently President (or Vice) of the German Leica Historica Society: he manages also a shop of old Leica gear, located in Wetzlar.

[wizard]

I will never understand why people would want to buy a prototype lens if they can have the series production of that lens for much less, and presumably with higher quality. Things are different of course if a lens only exists in prototype form and never made it into series production.

Andy

P.S.: The seller is as trustworthy as it can get, I know him and his shop

[stunsworth]

Originally Posted by wizard

I will never understand why people would want to buy a prototype lens if they can have the series production of that lens for much less, and presumably with higher quality

Rarity. What's a boy to collect once he's to old for toy soldiers? Can't understand it myself, but it fills some emotional need I guess.

[rob_x2004]

So whats the verdict? Collectors and serial traders at it?