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Leica IIIc variations


Pecole

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When collecting Leica, I must confess I was a compulsative buyer, always looking at a "better condition". I realize, investigating my files, that - including "user" models - more than 500 bodies came through. Even if my "collection" never counted more than a good 100 pieces at the same time, the most "represented" model in the total, immediately next to the IIIf, was the Leica IIIc. And it is also the Leica IIIc that was the most numerous model in my final Fontenelle Collection, with no less than 20 different variants.

All that said, I think it can be interesting to give the following details.

First, I will remind that the Leica IIIc production started in 1940 at serial 360175, and ended - as far as the so-called first model is concerned - with the war at nº 397607. The production of the post-war (second) model was resumed at nº 400001 and runned until 1951, ending at serial 525000. It is also important to note that the Leica IIId came immediately before the IIIc (I had nº 360069), and that other models appeared in between the above serial limits. As a matter of example, I had another IIId serilled 367308, seven IIc between 441570 and 445815, and five Ic numbered between 457298 and 522491. And the Leica IIIf production started at nº 529812.

And now, "my" Leica IIIc, all serialled within the limits 364256 to 397005 for the first models, and 463516 to 509174 for the second models.

- nº 395335 and 397005 were both first version, chrome, with normal (original?) blind

- nº 364743, 367809, 369928, 371314, 372655, 374493, 375514, all seven chrome with red blind

- nº 364256 chrome, red blind, engraved Luftwaffen-Eigentum

- nº 365627 chrome, red blind, engraved  FL.Nº38079, engraving Luftwaffen-Eigentum de-faced

- nº 385765 chrome, engraved Fl.Nº38079

- nº 378487 chrome, engraved P.A.I. on the back of the top cover

- nº 383137 chrome, engraved Heer (doubtful)

All following first models were gray painted:

- nº 372199 chrome but with gray vulcanite, and red blind

- nº 387681

- nº 389789K, blind printed K, engravings Fl.Nº38079 and Luftwaffen-Eigentum

- nº 390114K, blind printed K

- nº 390858K

- nº 391620K engraved W.H.

And now the post-war second models :

- nº 463516 sharkskin covering

- nº 465710

- nº 465697 and 465857, both engraved red AERONAUTICA MILITARE on top cover, and with professionally made flash socket on the right front

- nº 468757- nº 469010 sharkskin covering

- nº 471004

- nº 471743 and 474544, both sharkskin covering and with CAVOO shaped speed settings for VACU flash contact

- nº 483754

- nº 486944 sharkskin covering, DRP + GmbH engravings

- nº 500829 sharkskin covering

- nº 509174 black paint

 

A few photos to conclude :

- First one is of a body not included in my Leica IIIc listing, because it has been upgraded to IIIf : chrome nº 385660 is interesting, because despite its upgrading, it is still engraved both Fl.Nº38079 and Luftwaffen-Eigentum

- Second one is of gray paint nº 387681

- On third place, we have a gray Leica IIIc-K nº 391620K engraved W.H.

- Number four is a  gray IIIc with black SCNOO rapid winder

- Five : Leica IIIc-K gray nº 390114K with SOORE Summitar and black cap

- On the  IIIc nº 385765 illustrated on the 6th photo : the Fl.Nº38079 engraving

- Photo 7 : Leica IIIc nº 385660 with a very rare black and chrome Summarex serialled 599126 and a black RASAL frame viewfinder. Another black and chrome Summarex nº 599119 is known to exist in the Leitz collections

- The two following illustrations depict a "complete" set of a gray Leica IIIc-K nº 389789K with K on blind and both engravings Fl.Nº38079 and Luftwaffen-Eigentum. a Summitar nº 586189 also engraved Luftwaffen-Eigentum and a leather case embossed LUFTWAFFEN-EIGENTUM

-And finally - enough for today - a gray Leica IIIc-K nº 391620K engraved W.H., on the black MOOLY nº 5334

More photos tomorrow.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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What a collection! You must be very happy with it!

Thanks for sharing this information and pictures.

 

One thing that hit my eye is that the leather case in your picture is marked 'Luftwaffeneigentum' whereas the camera is marked 'Luftwaffen-Eigentum'.

I wonder why this discrepancy is there?

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What a collection! You must be very happy with it!

Thanks for sharing this information and pictures.

 

One thing that hit my eye is that the leather case in your picture is marked 'Luftwaffeneigentum' whereas the camera is marked 'Luftwaffen-Eigentum'.

I wonder why this discrepancy is there?

 

Good eyes! I asked long ago a German-speaking friend to explain that discrepancy. It seems that the spelling on the camera was the "traditional" one, the embossing on the case the "common language" one. I made an error in my text in not respecting the characters of the embossing : in fact, I did not look at the photo when writing, and I confused the type of embossing with the one on the AERONAUTICA MILITARE case I will illustrate later today.

And thanks for your appreciation.

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Hello Pierre

When did you sold your collection and was it to a one person ?

 

I sold my collection when getting retired at 59, in 1993. At that time, after an heart infarct and two surgical operations, I decided to totally change my life and to move to the property we had in Portugal, after touring the world with the whole family. I sold by pieces or lots, mainly to Swiss and Japanese collectors and also through well-known dealers (like Luigi Crescenzi or Stan Tamarkin). But I kept all my files and photos, and now enjoy "diving in" thanks to the Forum...and guys like you.

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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!

 

Great posts on the leica 3c. For my short contribution, I have always been interested in all model 3c's, but the post war versions did not seem as exciting as the prewar.

On the post war, non-step, versions, I somehow tended to collect the earliest that I could find; that is those as close to 400,000 as possible. this was the starting point, and times were difficult returning the factory to a successful operation.  So, the photos show a bakers dozen of the early ones. The earliest is 400,056 and the latest in the first one thousand production is 400,918.  it is black, but I am confident that it has been repainted. The close-up shows the three earliest.

Regards, I will try to cover my prewar 3c's someday.

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attachicon.gifIMG_0104.JPGattachicon.gifIMG_0105.JPG

 

Great posts on the leica 3c. For my short contribution, I have always been interested in all model 3c's, but the post war versions did not seem as exciting as the prewar.

On the post war, non-step, versions, I somehow tended to collect the earliest that I could find; that is those as close to 400,000 as possible. this was the starting point, and times were difficult returning the factory to a successful operation.  So, the photos show a bakers dozen of the early ones. The earliest is 400,056 and the latest in the first one thousand production is 400,918.  it is black, but I am confident that it has been repainted. The close-up shows the three earliest.

Regards, I will try to cover my prewar 3c's someday.

Alan, I guess you dont start collecting yesterday...

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