Pecole Posted May 14, 2011 Share #1 Posted May 14, 2011 Advertisement (gone after registration) The "Betriebs." items - cameras and lenses reserved for internal use by the manufacturer and engraved accordingly - are relatively rare items. We had an interesting set in the Fontenelle Collection : a Leica IIIf engraved "Betriebsk. Nr. 217" with a Summarit engraved "Betriebsob. Nº 051" (no other engraving identifying the lens). Here are the photos, first of the camera with the lens, then of the lens itself with its "mute" front rim. 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! Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/151716-fontenelle-archives-81-the-betriebs/?do=findComment&comment=1672212'>More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted May 14, 2011 Posted May 14, 2011 Hi Pecole, Take a look here Fontenelle archives 81 : The "Betriebs.". I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
sabears Posted May 15, 2011 Share #2 Posted May 15, 2011 I'm very suspicious about the fonts used on the lens, I had a similar lens (faked) years ago. The camera is well known and genuine. Cheers. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pecole Posted May 15, 2011 Author Share #3 Posted May 15, 2011 I'm very suspicious about the fonts used on the lens, I had a similar lens (faked) years ago.The camera is well known and genuine. Cheers. This lens came straight from Leitz works to my collection (an exchange deal through Dr Wangorsch in February, 1982), so I personally have no doubt ! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sabears Posted May 15, 2011 Share #4 Posted May 15, 2011 I believe in your honesty, no question! However the fonts and the engravings used were not typical of Leitz production of the period. My friend Jim Lager told me time ago that..."I believe many of these very unusual pieces are "inside jobs" by former Leitz employees. "... However if you have Leitz documents, obvious, it's not the case, it's another story. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pecole Posted May 16, 2011 Author Share #5 Posted May 16, 2011 I believe in your honesty, no question! However the fonts and the engravings used were not typical of Leitz production of the period. My friend Jim Lager told me time ago that..."I believe many of these very unusual pieces are "inside jobs" by former Leitz employees. "... However if you have Leitz documents, obvious, it's not the case, it's another story. Thank you, Sabears. I spent two hours searching my 29-years old files to clarify the story behind the "Betriebsob.2 Summarit. As a matter of fact, the exchange deal with the Leitz Museum represented by Dr Wangorsch has not resulted in the issue of any document. In my notes, I quoted the answer to my question about the lens being engraved "Nº" and the camera "Nr.", as "It probably dates from the time when Nr. was changed to Nº and both engravings co-existed". Now about the fonts and engravings, they look at least very similar on both the camera and the lens on my photos. The suggestion by our friend Jim Lager is interesting, but as former Leitz technician and chairman of "Leica Historica" Georg Mann once told me, forgery did not start that early for relatively low-value items, especially within the Leitz community. Anyhow, doubt is an essential element of collecting, leads to research and knowledge, and is always welcome. So, thanks again. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sabears Posted May 16, 2011 Share #6 Posted May 16, 2011 I say thank you to you too, for the beautiful things you share with us! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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