Fontenelle archives 76 . The discovery of the "Italian" Leicas.

[Pecole]

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The "militarized" Leicas have always evolved considerable interest among collectors, and are generally much sought after items. As a consequence -unfortunately enough ! - they also are the favourites of forgers, and one could probably assume that there are as many "fakes" as genuine military engravings. This is one more reason to be reluctant (at least !) when discovering a new and unknown "military" engraving.

The very first illustrations of the so-called "Italian" Leica IIIb and IIIc have been published in 1980 in the sixth issue of our Fontenelle Collection Newsletter. To be fair, they had been quoted before in a letter by a Belgian journalist, dated May 10, 1978 and published in the "Members' mailbox" of Viewfinder Vol. 11 nº 1, describing the discovery we detail hereunder but confusing the Leica models and engravings.

Here is the true story of our "discovery".

In April, 1978, we got a call from a well-known Brussels dealer who told us that he had discovered four strangely engraved Leicas at a pawnbroker's shop in Germany, supposedly deposited by an Italian guest worker. We rushed...and bought two bodies and one lens, the other pieces being duplicates (or looking like, at first sight) :

- Leica IIIb nº345332 with matching Summitar nº 523640

- Leica IIIc (post-war) nº465857.

The IIIb was nearly "like new", but closer look reveals that it has been overhauled in Wetzlar after the war : the engraving "Nº" has been replaced by "Nr." in front of the serial number, "Germany" has been engraved under Wetzlar and there is a decentered dot engraved on the release button. But the important characteristic remained unaltered : a very nice black "R. AERONAUTICA" engraving above the serial number.

On the lower right side of the body front, a massive flash socket had been professionally added, most probably by the Italian agent. Its connection comes to the advance/release system common to all IIIb's inside bottom, and is covered by a matt black painted brass plate.

The Summitar was perfectly normal and had been factory coated (probably simultaneously with body overhaul); the "R. AERONAUTICA" engraving in red appears on the flange ring, next to the depth-of-field scale.

The post-war IIIc was in A/B condition, except for the bottom cover where part of the chrome was slightly peeling-off, what is common with early post-war, poor quality chromium. Vulcanite is of the "fine grain/sharkskin" early post-war type. The engraving in red above serial number reads "AERONAUTICA MILITARE" and is of a slightly inferior quality to the IIIb's one. A flash socket of exactly the same type and location as on the IIIb, protrudes on lower right front.

We knew that another IIIb "R. AERONAUTICA" had been sold to a French merchant and that a third one was entrusted to a Belgian merchant for sale at the Brussels' flea market (!). We were lucky enough to buy this latter and also an ESFUS ever-ready case embossed on top "AERONAUTICA MILITARE" and with an opening in front for the flash socket, that fitted our IIIc.

The second IIIb bears serial number 345285 and was in original condition (Nº instead of Nr., no Germany engraving, no-dotted release button). The "R. AERONAUTICA" engraving and synchro-flash arrangement are the same as on nº 345332.

Finally, we also found a Summitar nº 667475 engraved "A.M." for "AERONAUTICA MILITARE" and matching the IIIc !

Now, some words on our research work. In early 1979, we went to Wetzlar to check the files, where we got immediate confirmation that our "Italians" were genuine ones, since they were registered as follows :

- IIIb 345285 and 345332 were both part of a shipment of 14 under code LOVDU, contract number 4346, to Cattaneo (Leitz agent in Italy until 1979) on February 2, 1940.

- Summitar 523640 is similarly listed as having been shipped to Cattaneo under contract number 4346 on February 2, 1940.

- IIIc 465857 was part of a shipment of ten (serials 465851 to 465860) under code LOOKX, contract number 274 to Cattaneo on February 14, 1949.

- Summitar 667475 was similarly shipped to Cattaneo on February 14, 1949 under contract nº 274.

Furthermore, we have checked the meanings of "R. AERONAUTICA" and "AERONAUTICA MILITARE" in the authoritative "Jane's All the World's Aircraft" annual encyclopaedia : the Regia Aeronautica has been the official name for the Royal and Mussolinian Italian Air Force from as early as 1923. Mussolini's fascist forces retained the name up to September 8, 1943, when the Italian Government surrendered to Allies (Jane's 1945-46, page 54a). Under the Peace Treaty, the new Republic of Italy's Air Force became "Aeronautica Militare" (Jane's 1948).

To finish with, several "Italian" IIIb and IIIc have surfaced in the 30 last years. Laney illustrates IIIb nº 323852 with Summitar nº 529094, both R. AERONAUTICA, and Lager the IIIb nº 339814 and IIIc nº466069.

 

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The two above photos illustrate the Leica IIIb nº 345332 with its matching Summitar nº 523640, both engraved R. AERONAUTICA.

 

This photo of both Leica IIIb shows the engraving differences on the original nº 345285 and the overhauled nº 345332.

 

Two photos of the Leica IIIc nº 465857 engraved AERONAUTICA MILITARE with its Summitar nº 667475 engraved A.M. and the ESFUS case embossed AERONAUTICA MILITARE.

 

Photos showing the flash sockets, identical on both the IIIb and the IIIc.

 

The Summitar nº 523640 is engraved A.M. for AERONAUTICA MILITARE.

 

Ant the Summitar nº 667475 with its A.M. engraving.

 

Clear views of the nicely AERONAUTICA MILITARE embossed ESFUS ever~ready case, with its opening on lower right front for the flash socket.

[luigi bertolotti]

Thanks, Pierre, for this well clear excursus of "Italian" military Leicas : I add that the late Mr. Ghester Sartorius, a well known italian Leica historician, found and published some bodies in which the engraving was "E. AERONAUTICA"... leaving open the question if this was an engraving error or had some other meaning : he hinted it could be "Esplorazione Aeronautica" but, afaik, there was not a military body with such a name. I tend to think of an error... probably the engraving work was anyway made in Italy, arranged by the importer (Cattaneo) or directly from the Italian Air Force.

[jc_braconi]

A beautiful IIIf (lot 60) will be in auction at Westlich in Vienna engraved E I and *.

[luigi bertolotti]

A beautiful IIIf (lot 60) will be in auction at Westlich in Vienna engraved E I and *.

 

When I served in the E.I. (1981), our unit had a Canon Ftb, "E.I." engraved in about the same position (the kit included a 400mm lens !) ... times of IIIf were already gone.... ; I served at a Military Airport (contraerial artillery) and the flying group had a fantastic Aero Linhof (I was never allowed to touch it... so I even didn't realize if it was a 6x9 rollfilm or a 6x7, or maybe even a plain film 9x12)

[sabears]

Interesting story behind, and interesting cameras.

 

I wonder why (and who) they re-engraved the camera n.345332 with "R.Aeronautica" after they changed the top-plate with a spare after the war.

At the time R.Aeronautica didn't exist anymore.

 

cheers.

[Pecole]

Interesting story behind, and interesting cameras.

 

I wonder why (and who) they re-engraved the camera n.345332 with "R.Aeronautica" after they changed the top-plate with a spare after the war.

At the time R.Aeronautica didn't exist anymore.

 

cheers.

 

Right, Regia Aeronautica didn't exist any more, but the Leitz policy has always been the same, except formal contrary request by the customer : re-engrave like the original. And the new procurement officers of the Aeronautica Militare didn't think of that, I presume.

[Pecole]

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Thanks, Pierre, for this well clear excursus of "Italian" military Leicas : I add that the late Mr. Ghester Sartorius, a well known italian Leica historician, found and published some bodies in which the engraving was "E. AERONAUTICA"... leaving open the question if this was an engraving error or had some other meaning : he hinted it could be "Esplorazione Aeronautica" but, afaik, there was not a military body with such a name. I tend to think of an error... probably the engraving work was anyway made in Italy, arranged by the importer (Cattaneo) or directly from the Italian Air Force.

 

I agree, Luigi, Ghester has done quite a job in exploring the Italian Leica/military context. I had many occasions of discussing it with him, especially when visiting him in Naples (I still remember the delicious pastas made by his very old "nani", the incredible lift of his apartment building, that needed old coins to be operated, his telephone set dating 1909 etc..). But the very first mention of the "E. Aeronautica" has been made by another famous collector from Vienna, Wolfgang Netolitsky, who simultaneously published articles in Viewfinder (Vol. 12-1979, nº 1) and in VIDOM (nº 11, March, 1979) on the Leica 250 M nº 353696. This camera had been shipped to Cattaneo on May 28, 1943 under code OORHY and contract number 1452. General opinion is that the engraving is an error made by Leitz, but the subject is still open.