M2 black

[roguewave]

Originally Posted by jc_braconi

It is true that even the paranoiacs have their enemies...

That's all they have.

[kodaktrix]

If there is Chrome under the black paint it is definitely a bad done fake.

If there is "chrome" under the black "paint" it could be a camera restored with black chrome spareparts. All the M2 time dials, rewind knobs and frame counter spare parts are and where black chrome for some time now, as it was cheaper than black paint, so why not a top cover too? It was not before the M6J and the MP that black paint spare parts were available again.

So if the camera was restored e.g. in the late 70ties and 80ties with original spare parts these would have been black chrome.
Brass has to be nickeled before chromed, so if you see "chrome" under a black chrome you see nickel!

I would just get blood pressure if there would be chrome under a black paint.


Regards

Oliver

PS.: I have seen some black M2 that I thought were black chrome on ebay over the years.

[Erik van Straten]

No, there is no chrome under the black paint. In my opinion, it's a restored - by Leitz in the early 70's - black paint M2.
The black paint on the Leica's M2, M3, MP, IIIf, IIIg and conversed black II and III's produced from the late 50's up to 1963 or so was of a very bad quality indeed. A strange chemical effect occurred in the paint. The paint blistered off, all by itself. To correct this, Leitz developed, in about 1967, a very good black paint finish for the M4 and SL camera's. Leitz also offered in those years a very expensive service to convert chrome camera's into black (for instance, to match a camera with a Noctilux), but also to restore earlier black camera's of dissapointed owners. This service was carried out by the Wetzlar repair department. I think this M2 is an example of that service, for this M2 carries the Wetzlar repair department seal. From time to time cameras of this type can be found.
In 1972 Leitz chose for economical reasons for the very ugly "black chrome finish". To produce black paint camera's is perhaps quite expensive.

[stunsworth]

Originally Posted by Erik van Straten

In 1972 Leitz chose for economical reasons for the very ugly "black chrome finish". To produce black paint camera's is perhaps quite expensive.

Or maybe they chose it because it's harder wearing than paint. Anyhow, personally I don't find it ugly.

[jc_braconi]

OK , again I let you struggling for a while :

you want to see this M2 ? :

eBay.ca : Rare Leitz Leica M2 BLACK PAINT - original !! objet 140227394951 fin)

The seller is the vice president of the Leica historical society from Germany.

Please check the value.

[Erik van Straten]

So you are the buyer! Congratulations!

[jc_braconi]

Originally Posted by Erik van Straten

So you are the buyer! Congratulations!

Absolutely NOT, I think you make confusion.

[Erik van Straten]

Originally Posted by jc_braconi

Absolutely NOT, I think you make confusion.

I am sorry. I do not want to make confusions.

regards,

Erik.

[robsteve]

Originally Posted by Erik van Straten

how do you determine this average value evaluation?

Put it for sale on Ebay and it will fetch what it is worth.

[luigi bertolotti]

Originally Posted by jc_braconi

OK , again I let you struggling for a while :

you want to see this M2 ? :

eBay.ca : Rare Leitz Leica M2 BLACK PAINT - original !! objet 140227394951 fin)

The seller is the vice president of the Leica historical society from Germany.

Please check the value.

Hey, that's the same that initiated the thread !
Well, difficult to think Netopil in the fakes' biz....

[rob_x2004]

Where are you guys seeing chrome wearing through? I can only see what looks like lighting reflectoin on the wind on end front of the top cover. Then again I am on the Apple Crap but that is another story.

[Erik van Straten]

In use, the paint surface becomes glossy where it is touched often.