leica M3 attrape but fully functionnal ?

[stephanvdz]

Hello All,
I own a leica M3 12736 A... as you all should know this is a specific serial number for an attrape (not working or dummy) camera. I would never have bought an attrape camera if the seller was not arguing that it was fully functionnal (and I had good reason to believe him since the M3 showed some trace of use).
And as I thought this M3 is indeed fully functionnal (normal SS M3)... and more surprising it still has his original L seal... meaning that it was "never" opened.

After some words with the seller (who didn't understand why I was so insistant to be sure that the camera was really working... "of course it works, it was my father's camera for ages... ), I learned the following information, the camera seems to have been bought in Canada by a german ingeneer (not in the photo business) who was on a business trip over there... and brought back to Germany.

Could anyone help me find more about that special and bizarre camera... what should I look for ? is there another serial number to be read somewhere ?

Stephan Van den Zegel

[NB23]

Make sure the seal has the "L" on it. Otherwise, anyone can put black wax on the screw and call it a Leica seal.

I have no idea about the serial number but it might be one of the first canadian prototypes? If so, I guess the camera is worth something

[stephanvdz]

it's a L seal (easy to forge of course) but the story seemed genuine, hence the very low price of the sale... if it was a forgery or something like that it would have been sold more aggressively and not so cheap. (same price as an ordinary M3 on ebay around 400€)

I don't think it's a prototype... why would it have an attrape number ?

[luigi bertolotti]

Number is really strange... can you attach some pics of this camera ?

[stephanvdz]

I'll take a picture tomorrow morning (what is the useful resolution here ?)

[stephanvdz]

here are some pictures...