Fontenelle archives 28 : Alberico Arces, Leica-lover and artist

[Pecole]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

In the mid-1980s, I visited my friend Alberico Arces at his house, via Mantiero in Treviso. I had already bought samples of all his "replicas" and "miniatures" for my Fontenelle Collection, and was curious to discover his "factory". I was not disappointed !

Alberico was a precision mechanic, and the boss of the local Italian Telecom State Company's "Telex repair and maintenance shop". In this capacity, he headed a small team of highly specialised precision mechanics and had at his disposal all kind of fine metal machinig tool.The problem was...that Telexes were heavy and noisy machines that had already nearly disappeared by that time (yes, "young" collectors, faxes - not to speak of internet and e-mails - have not existed for that long!), and, as always happens with State "businesses", no "responsible person" had remembered the existing technical organisation. In order to keep his team busy, Alberico had the idea to let them make UR-Leica replicas based on drawings he had found. The result was so good, that he developed the "business" with the enthusiastic help of his team.

His own bosses must have been aware, because Alberico didn't hesitate to let me visit his workplace and take photos.

I just came across a few of these pixes in my archives, and deliver them hereunder for your pleasure. And remember : his (not working) "Nullserie" replicas existed nearly 20 years before the costly Leica ones.

Next to the normal or "brassy" UR-Replicas, tubus and folding viewfinder versions of the Nullserie, Arces production included wood display models of Leica I , Luxus and stereo "Doppel-Leica", miniature brass models of Leica I and Luxus etc...

I must add a very important point : Alberico Arces never made a "fake" : all his products came numbered and with a "certificate". One of the pixes illustrates The Fontenelle Collection's UR-Leica replica with the number XVIII, which was my personal member number in the late Associazione Fotostorica Italiana (AFI-Italian Photo-historical Association).

[Advertisement]

The Leica Q3 is available for pre-order at B&H Photo Video and Adorama

[luigi bertolotti]

Nice you knew him... my local dealer, in his Leica-dedicated display shelf, has a little collection of Alberico's miniature Leicas (and, being a good dealer, asked me if I was interested into them.... )

[ckli]

Hi,

 

I'm curious to know whether these miniature replicas can take pictures or not?

 

Thanks,

CK

[sabears]

Hi,

 

I'm curious to know whether these miniature replicas can take pictures or not?

 

Thanks,

CK

 

No working items, only for display.

 

Cheers

[Pecole]

No working items, only for display.

 

Cheers

 

Only for display indeed, but you could wind up, depress the release and hear a "click". Better than a common "dummy"...