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Old Leica camera bag


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A couple of weeks ago I stumbled on two old Leica camera bags in our attic. I bought them for very little money back in the 80's, when I lived in Los Angeles. They are made from purple canvas and leather. These bags are charmingly old-fashioned, but they give very little protection to a camera - there is absolutely no padding inside, just pieces of canvas which create divisions. I tried to find some information on them on internet and in books, but came up with nothing.

The bag on the photo has never been used. It is about 40cm in length. I also have the smaller version which has been used a little. Are these bags familiar to forum members?

Thank you for any information you might have,

Frans

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A bit strange... I don't remember to have ever seen bags of this kind in official catalogs, and the color, seems to me, doesn't look a "standard Leica hue"; leathers parts seem to have good quality of material, but not exceptional quality of finishing (see the not so well centered embroidings) , but the leather logo looks original (why hell "faking" a bag?...)

Btw, given its age, I do not think is related to other Leitz products (sport optics...) ... the "Leica" name was used for cameras only at Leitz times.

I have no clue... hope for someone else...

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In the 60's/70's, Leica had a khaki version of this bag. I carried one for years [first Minolta equipment, then Leica] and never had any thing banged up [they ride close to your body]

When the R3 came out, Leica made some fancy, soft calfskin bags out of dark maroonish leather [got one of those, really pretty] and also made the canvas bag in the color you have.

Around the same time they also made an "Alpine" series of bags [and a vest] which were a light colored, quilted [sort of] material.

Sometimes these things go for a pretty penny on Ebay.

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In the 60's/70's, Leica had a khaki version of this bag. I carried one for years [first Minolta equipment, then Leica] and never had any thing banged up [they ride close to your body]

When the R3 came out, Leica made some fancy, soft calfskin bags out of dark maroonish leather [got one of those, really pretty] and also made the canvas bag in the color you have.

Around the same time they also made an "Alpine" series of bags [and a vest] which were a light colored, quilted [sort of] material.

Sometimes these things go for a pretty penny on Ebay.

 

Thank you very much, Gary. I'm very impressed with your knowledge.

I will hold onto them, they are unusual looking in this age.

Frans

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Admit it; its a black bag but you left the IR filter off your M8

 

I agree that it is the kind of color you get when the IR filter is off! But no, I leave those filters on all the time...

I actually would have preferred it if it were a black bag. But it really is that strange red wine color... That probably explains why these bags were not a big success at the time...

----------

Frans

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I agree that it is the kind of color you get when the IR filter is off! But no, I leave those filters on all the time...

I actually would have preferred it if it were a black bag. But it really is that strange red wine color... That probably explains why these bags were not a big success at the time...

----------

Frans

 

Frans, I was joking. Apologies for my British sense of humour. The bag is attractive just as it is - and in style, its rather like some of the expensive Billinghams and their clones that are so popular today.

 

Steve'

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Frans, I was joking. Apologies for my British sense of humour. The bag is attractive just as it is - and in style, its rather like some of the expensive Billinghams and their clones that are so popular today.

 

Steve'

 

Dear Steve,

No offense taken. I think that the British sense of humor is the best there is. I received my undergraduate degree in London - that's where I got addicted to British humor! But honestly, I have seen prettier bags than this one... This one seems to be more like a curiosity, perhaps even a rarity, given that nobody has been able to identify it yet by name.

Frans

PS Another addiction of mine are those Billingham bags... Hadley Pro, Alice...

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Guest DuquesneG

I've seen a number of those. They are a dark red (burgundy, maroon, whatever you want to call it). They are also about 33% smaller than the ones that came in tan color. Inside is the same sewn-in divider thing that can be velcroed around to form a lens holder or whatever. Basically it's the same bag only smaller that was copied as the M-Classics bag...except the M-Classics is made out of stiff, heavy material and is ridiculously heavier than those original cotton-canvas Leica bags.

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I've seen a number of those. They are a dark red (burgundy, maroon, whatever you want to call it). They are also about 33% smaller than the ones that came in tan color. Inside is the same sewn-in divider thing that can be velcroed around to form a lens holder or whatever. Basically it's the same bag only smaller that was copied as the M-Classics bag...except the M-Classics is made out of stiff, heavy material and is ridiculously heavier than those original cotton-canvas Leica bags.

 

Yes, they weigh almost nothing, but I would not risk carrying my material around in these flimsy things.

Thank you,

Frans

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Dear Vertekijker (Beste Vertekijker),

Your Leica bag was not produced, or even sold by Leitz/Leica, but "authorized" by same, as evidenced by the small "copyright" logo stamped at the lower right end of the Leica logo.

Leically yours from a Belgian (bilingual walloon) retiree living in Portugal.

Pecole (Pierre Jeandrain)

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Dear Vertekijker (Beste Vertekijker),

Your Leica bag was not produced, or even sold by Leitz/Leica, but "authorized" by same, as evidenced by the small "copyright" logo stamped at the lower right end of the Leica logo.

Leically yours from a Belgian (bilingual walloon) retiree living in Portugal.

Pecole (Pierre Jeandrain)

 

Cher Pierre,

Nice to hear from Portugal. Be happy you are there, it has suddenly gotten very cold, windy and rainy here! Also nice to receive another piece of the puzzle about my old bag.

Greetings from Hasselt from a bilingual Fleming,

Leically yours as well,

Frans

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Guest DuquesneG
Yes, they weigh almost nothing, but I would not risk carrying my material around in these flimsy things.

Thank you,

Frans

 

Oh, neither would I. But for a time those M-Classics bags were the obligatory fashion accessory for someone aspiring to join the insider clique of on-line Leica users.

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  • 3 weeks later...

Since there's a bit of dialogue going here, can anyone identify this bag for me? I happened across this and purchased it. I have not received it yet, but the seller claimed it is brand new (never been used) and was a gift he never used.

 

JT

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Hi John

This is the bag Leica sold back in the 70's [and maybe earlier]

It's the same model I used [see post above] for many years until it finally bit the dust.

I won't say they actualy made the bag themselves, but it did have an official Leica part number in their catalogues from that era.

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