alandash Posted January 17, 2014 Share #1 Posted January 17, 2014 Advertisement (gone after registration) Is there some special aura about the Leica 3B, especially when it is in excellent condition? I noticed that it is often a sort of "black sheep" item when we LTM collectors gather to display our Leicas. I happen to have one that was recently CLA'd, and is still fine looking, with only minor rub marks on the bottom of the base plate. It seems to be a transitional model, between the 3A and 3C. In sales listings of used cameras, I usually see lots of the 3A, 3C, 3F and very few 3G, without any 3B. I wonder why? Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted January 17, 2014 Posted January 17, 2014 Hi alandash, Take a look here Leica 3B Collector Reputation. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
doubice Posted January 17, 2014 Share #2 Posted January 17, 2014 The numbers are approximate, but... Leica III..............76,000 produced Leica IIIa............92,000 produced Leica IIIb............33,000 produced Leica IIIc...........133,000 produced Leica IIIf............114,000 produced The numbers probably answer your question. Incidentally, the IIIb was the first Leica I owned, it started my interest in photography and eventually my long association with many more Leicas...... The IIIb was my mother's camera, which she bought as a 'hedge against inflation' just before WWII. We lived in Prague at the time and I 'discovered' the camera as a 13-year old, while rummaging through various hiding places of our flat, trying to find what I may be getting for the upcoming Christmas...... The gifts must have been very well hidden as I did not find any, but I found the IIIb hidden deep in a drawer. It stayed with me through the Soviet-led invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1968, my emmigration to Canada, first trip to New York City, trip up the Alaska Highway etc..... Still have it, not as pristine looking as when I found it. Yes, the IIIb is a special camera for me.... Cheers, Jan 10 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jc_braconi Posted January 17, 2014 Share #3 Posted January 17, 2014 Thanks for the story Jan. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
luigi bertolotti Posted January 17, 2014 Share #4 Posted January 17, 2014 More than a transitional model, the IIIb was the last of the first breed of Leicas, in the sense that with IIIc they changed completely the technology of the body shell : die cast instead of bend metal sheets, resulting in a slightly longer body (2,7 mm) and in the impossibility to offere factory upgrades from , say, a Ia to a IIIc (while one could convert a Ia to IIIb, for instance) The numbers quoted by Jan are surely the main reason for IIIb relative scarcity... even IIIG was made in greater numbers : I can add that, thinking of IIIb, also the timeframe of its manufacturing cycle must be considered : as one can see, about 13.000 were made in '37-'38 , then '39 and '40... a dramatic period for Europe and Germany expecially : it is probable that, differently from the previous years, not so many left Germany or "near and friendly" nations, and several items surely went to Military/Police etc... (indeed, "Luftwfaffen Eigentum" IIIb do exist, though most of such cameras are IIIc) ; quickly said, most of the IIIb that left the factory lived their youth in terrible times... and their mortality rate has been probably much higher than for other models. The well known records do report that 600 IIIb were assembled in 1946... very difficult year for Germany... probably it's a typical case of a small batch made with spares found in the factory after the storm. 4 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
payasam Posted January 17, 2014 Share #5 Posted January 17, 2014 In dimensions and basic construction the IIIb was like the IIIa, but its finder eye-pieces and its R/F telescope focus ("diopter") adjustment were like the IIIc. Presumably its manufacture was stopped because of the arrival of the IIIc, which was superior. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jc_braconi Posted January 17, 2014 Share #6 Posted January 17, 2014 For illustration, a Leica IIIb camera, 1939 issued, with Elmar 3.5/50 chrome and FISON sunshade, accompanied by two Summitar 2/50, SOORE one with dome shaped iris and UV filter, second with flat shaped iris and Yellow filter with red box. The barn door sunshade clamp on model for Summitar, SOOPD. Eveready case and Leica catalogs from the 30’ies. Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! 4 Quote Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/220333-leica-3b-collector-reputation/?do=findComment&comment=2511680'>More sharing options...
huubl Posted January 18, 2014 Share #7 Posted January 18, 2014 Advertisement (gone after registration) Not as nice as JC's above, but good-looking anyway. Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/220333-leica-3b-collector-reputation/?do=findComment&comment=2512048'>More sharing options...
jc_braconi Posted January 18, 2014 Share #8 Posted January 18, 2014 good-looking anyway. Absolutely, a nice example. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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