leicalord Posted November 20, 2008 Share #1 Posted November 20, 2008 Advertisement (gone after registration) Hi, Firstly this is all very new to me but the forum looks great! Well after years of wanting an M3 (since my college days) I have finally purchased one. Its an early DS and in pretty good condition. I have not bought it for its condition but to use. I bought it from the most popular web auction site ( sorry, I dont know if you can mention it on here!!!), Having logged on one Sunday afternoon I saw it with minutes to go before the end of the auction. I increased the current bid by £30 and won it!!! Its the most money I have ever spent in such a short space of time! The reason I purchased this particular M3 was in the description the camera was apparantly owned by a particularly famous photographer. On receiving the camera I contacted the seller for more information on how they aquired it and if they could provide me with some documentation stating the said photographer owned this camera. The seller very kindly sent me a copy of this photographers autobiography which does mention they used 2 ealy M3's. Is there any way or any one that can provide me with the information as to who originally purchased this camera. Does Leica keep a record of camera registrations? Do they date back to the 50's? Any help or advise would be much appreciated. Whilst I am sure I have purchased the camera from a relaible source ( they were actually left the camera by the said photographer) I would like to find out for myself that the information is correct. Thanks for all your help! Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted November 20, 2008 Posted November 20, 2008 Hi leicalord, Take a look here Leica M3 DS history. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
andybarton Posted November 20, 2008 Share #2 Posted November 20, 2008 Welcome to the forum Mark! You don't say how much you paid for the camera on eBay (yes, you can mention eBay ) but if it really belonged to a famous photographer, it would probably have been sold with some real, hard provenance in order to attract a much higher price. And, it would probably have been put into a specialist auction, where collectors "collect". However, if it was left to the person that sold it to you, then an extract from a will would be a good start, or maybe a letter from said photographer saying "Here's my camera, don't sell it". Just because an autobiography states that a person used two early M3s, doesn't mean that they actually used THIS particular one. I have never heard of anyone getting proof of original ownership for a 50s camera from Leica, but if you contact their Customer Service department in Solms, I am sure that they will be able to help you if they are able, especially if this IS a "notable" example. So, I hope that the camera has the original owner that you think it did, but, I also hope that you didn't pay a premium based upon hope rather than proof. The best thing that you can do with it, is put some film in it and take it out for a spin at the first opportunity, imagining what photographs might have passed through the same lens and shutter. Good luck, and let us know how you get on. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
doubice Posted November 21, 2008 Share #3 Posted November 21, 2008 This is the camera: LEICA M3 Double wind Camera with 50mm f1.5 Summarit M ! on eBay, also, 35mm Rangefinder, Film Cameras, Photography (end time 09-Nov-08 16:37:59 GMT) As to obtaining information about the original owner - Leica's files will probably only list the camera's importer in the destination country and not the name of the final user. May be worth a try though...... Best, Jan Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
luigi bertolotti Posted November 21, 2008 Share #4 Posted November 21, 2008 Yes, starting with Leica Customer Service is the right way: some noticeable photographers used to have a a direct link with Leitz regarding maintenance, and if the camera would had been serviced, is possible they have some record of this: Bert Hardy was really a famous photographer, and the fact that he was a longtime Leica user is well known (even if one of his most famous pics was made with a cheap Kodak Brownie... ); but he passed away not so many years ago, and probably also some investigation on his will, documents, people involved etc. can be an interesting one. Anyway... you've got a splendid collectible and usable camera, and a fine lens too... at a price that can be considered "right"... enjoy and take pics with it, first of all !!! Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
leicalord Posted November 21, 2008 Author Share #5 Posted November 21, 2008 Hi, Thanks for the information guys. I think I will go down the 'Will' route to see if I can get some more information. The camera is the one that 'doubice' has pasted in his reply above and did apparently belong to Bert Hardy. I just need to prove it for myself! The serial number is M3-831 366. I would be grateful for any information on this camera or this batch of cameras. I also got the 50mm 1.5 Summarit lens in good condition with a little dust inside elements. Can anyone give me details of a good UK company who service Leica kit at a good price. Im hoping to put my first roll of film through the M3 this weekend. It will be the first roll of 35mm I have shot for some years so fingers crossed! Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gyoung Posted November 21, 2008 Share #6 Posted November 21, 2008 Hi, Thanks for the information guys. I think I will go down the 'Will' route to see if I can get some more information. The camera is the one that 'doubice' has pasted in his reply above and did apparently belong to Bert Hardy. I just need to prove it for myself! The serial number is M3-831 366. I would be grateful for any information on this camera or this batch of cameras. I also got the 50mm 1.5 Summarit lens in good condition with a little dust inside elements. Can anyone give me details of a good UK company who service Leica kit at a good price. Im hoping to put my first roll of film through the M3 this weekend. It will be the first roll of 35mm I have shot for some years so fingers crossed! Malcolm Taylor in the UK, but 'good price'? his work is worth the money, but not cheap. Gerry Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dkCambridgeshire Posted November 21, 2008 Share #7 Posted November 21, 2008 Advertisement (gone after registration) Hi, Firstly this is all very new to me but the forum looks great! Well after years of wanting an M3 (since my college days) I have finally purchased one. Its an early DS and in pretty good condition. I have not bought it for its condition but to use. I bought it from the most popular web auction site ( sorry, I dont know if you can mention it on here!!!), Having logged on one Sunday afternoon I saw it with minutes to go before the end of the auction. I increased the current bid by £30 and won it!!! Its the most money I have ever spent in such a short space of time! The reason I purchased this particular M3 was in the description the camera was apparantly owned by a particularly famous photographer. On receiving the camera I contacted the seller for more information on how they aquired it and if they could provide me with some documentation stating the said photographer owned this camera. The seller very kindly sent me a copy of this photographers autobiography which does mention they used 2 ealy M3's. Is there any way or any one that can provide me with the information as to who originally purchased this camera. Does Leica keep a record of camera registrations? Do they date back to the 50's? Any help or advise would be much appreciated. Whilst I am sure I have purchased the camera from a relaible source ( they were actually left the camera by the said photographer) I would like to find out for myself that the information is correct. Thanks for all your help! Leica (Leitz) used to register "passports" (guarantees) for new equipment which new owners would submit to eg Leica UK after the dealer had stamped the document(s) . But I don't think these records are accessible. The only certain way of proving provenance would be to have sight of the original sales invoice which would document the buyer's name and maybe his/her address and the camera serial number. Do you know which dealer the camera was purchased from? Was the photographer well known when the camera was purchased? Can you mention who the photographer was? If the photographer used the camera over many years there might be a service receipt somewhere showing his/her name and the camera serial number. I think you might have a difficult time proving provenance without firm documentary evidence. Cheers dunk EDIT: I wrote above before seeing your Ebay link and the description. R G Lewis is still trading and the manager has worked there for many years. Might be worth giving them a ring as Bert Hardy might have taken it back there for a service or 'three' as he was a very well known photo-journalist . Which part of the country are you in? If you are in London there are at least a couple of repairers there who can service an M3. But if it needs anything more than just a service ie attention to the rangefinder prisms if they are cloudy or yellow then it needs to go to a specialist repairer eg CRR Luton. Cheers dunk Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
leicalord Posted November 22, 2008 Author Share #8 Posted November 22, 2008 Thanks Dunk for your help. Have been intouch with RG Lewis who seem helpful if I need kit serviced. Seems they may be able to get some info from Leica but I need to call back in the week. I live in Oxfordshire so CRR Luton could be a good option too for servicing. Cheers, Mark Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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