hlockwood Posted January 26, 2012 Share #1 Posted January 26, 2012 Advertisement (gone after registration) Here is a Leica with a big story behind it, much too long to recite here. The man who owned it, an old friend. died many years ago at age ~100. He, his wife and son were hiding out from the Nazis in the area of Clermont-Ferrand during WW II. How he acquired the camera, I don't know. The S/N has been obliterated, but the lens S/N is 94356; it is a Hector 50mm f/2.5. The lens has a few minor scratches, probably from cleaning, but no haze or fungus. There is no model number on the top plate just Ernst Leitz, Wetzlar, D.R.P. The shutter appears to work but probably is not accurate; the diaphragm is stiff but moves throughout the range; the rangefinder patch is weak but useable. The curtain appears to be in good shape, and the (leather?) covering is essentially perfect. I'd like to find out more about the camera and, possibly, put it into good working order. I'll probably take it too Youxin Ye who lives nearby for an inspection and an estimate. If anyone here can shed some light, I'd appreciate it very much. Harry 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/171381-ur-leica/?do=findComment&comment=1909605'>More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted January 26, 2012 Posted January 26, 2012 Hi hlockwood, Take a look here Ur-Leica?. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
Pecole Posted January 26, 2012 Share #2 Posted January 26, 2012 Here is a Leica with a big story behind it, much too long to recite here. The man who owned it, an old friend. died many years ago at age ~100. He, his wife and son were hiding out from the Nazis in the area of Clermont-Ferrand during WW II. How he acquired the camera, I don't know. The S/N has been obliterated, but the lens S/N is 94356; it is a Hector 50mm f/2.5. The lens has a few minor scratches, probably from cleaning, but no haze or fungus. There is no model number on the top plate just Ernst Leitz, Wetzlar, D.R.P. The shutter appears to work but probably is not accurate; the diaphragm is stiff but moves throughout the range; the rangefinder patch is weak but useable. The curtain appears to be in good shape, and the (leather?) covering is essentially perfect. I'd like to find out more about the camera and, possibly, put it into good working order. I'll probably take it too Youxin Ye who lives nearby for an inspection and an estimate. If anyone here can shed some light, I'd appreciate it very much. Harry Your Leica is a Leica II, most probably an early one (1932?). The lens is not matching, since pre-100000 serials have been produced in 1925-26. Five-digit serials for lenses are not too common, but I had seven in my Fontenelle collection, including #94086 and #96423 Hektor 5 cm. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
k_g_wolf ✝ Posted January 26, 2012 Share #3 Posted January 26, 2012 Ur- Leica ?? No, Ur- Leicas look quite different. You would have a VERY expensive item in case its was. It´s a LEICA II, model D, made from 1932 to 1948. Or perhaps a factory upgrade from an earlier camera, the LEICA I. The lens could be a bit older in case it was originally attached to a LEICA I. best GEORG Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pecole Posted January 26, 2012 Share #4 Posted January 26, 2012 Your Leica is a Leica II, most probably an early one (1932?). The lens is not matching, since pre-100000 serials have been produced in 1925-26. Five-digit serials for lenses are not too common, but I had seven in my Fontenelle collection, including #94086 and #96423 Hektor 5 cm. And looking again at your photo, I realize that there is something wrong with the lens : first, it is what we call a "7 o'clock", meaning that the focusing stop (missing on yours) is at lower left, where the "hole" is to be seen; normally, at such a low serial, the infinity stop should be at "11 o'clock". As for the serial number of the camera, are you sure it has been "deleted", or is it simply much brassy and lacking the metal filing? have a close look or let's have a close-up photo. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pecole Posted January 26, 2012 Share #5 Posted January 26, 2012 And looking again at your photo, I realize that there is something wrong with the lens : first, it is what we call a "7 o'clock", meaning that the focusing stop (missing on yours) is at lower left, where the "hole" is to be seen; normally, at such a low serial, the infinity stop should be at "11 o'clock". As for the serial number of the camera, are you sure it has been "deleted", or is it simply much brassy and lacking the metal filing? have a close look or let's have a close-up photo. Wow ! I am really getting very old...or am affected with some form of hiccup. There is one more confusing point about the lens : the infinity lock is not cylindrical, but "bell"-shaped, which is definitely not coherent with the S/N. This lens is clearly a "put-up job", probably made from various parts coming from various lenses. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pecole Posted January 26, 2012 Share #6 Posted January 26, 2012 Ur- Leica ?? No, Ur- Leicas look quite different. You would have a VERY expensive item in case its was. It´s a LEICA II, model D, made from 1932 to 1948. Or perhaps a factory upgrade from an earlier camera, the LEICA I. The lens could be a bit older in case it was originally attached to a LEICA I. best GEORG Sorry to contradict you, Georg, but the Hektor does cannot come from a "non-interchangeable" Leica I, since all these lenses, even after Leitz intervention, remained unnumbered, like they originally were. This was confirmed to me at Wetzlar 40 years ago, when I investigated about the 6 unnumbered Elmar 50 MM I had in my collection. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
k_g_wolf ✝ Posted January 26, 2012 Share #7 Posted January 26, 2012 Advertisement (gone after registration) Yes, Pecole, you are right. Hard to get away with a quick answer round here. Just one sentence about the >>lock<<: Acc. to J. L. Lager (Vol II, p. 34) the position of the infinity lock changed from 11 to 7 o´clock in late 1932 - early 1933. Just about the time when the camera could have been built. The Lager-book shows a Hektor no. 66611 from 1931 and another one, no. 94915 from 1932 still with an 11 o´clock infinitylock. The camera shown with the lens is in the 91,000- numberrange. Since this lens is a later one the camera could be of 1933 manufacture. best GEORG Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
hlockwood Posted January 26, 2012 Author Share #8 Posted January 26, 2012 Yes, I knew it wasn't really an ur-Leica, but still... You guys are terrific; please keep going. I love it. Harry Edit: There is absolutely no financial aspect to this quest. It belonged to a dear friend. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr. No Posted January 26, 2012 Share #9 Posted January 26, 2012 ur-leica ................ ?????????????? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
hlockwood Posted January 26, 2012 Author Share #10 Posted January 26, 2012 And looking again at your photo, I realize that there is something wrong with the lens : first, it is what we call a "7 o'clock", meaning that the focusing stop (missing on yours) is at lower left, where the "hole" is to be seen; normally, at such a low serial, the infinity stop should be at "11 o'clock". As for the serial number of the camera, are you sure it has been "deleted", or is it simply much brassy and lacking the metal filing? have a close look or let's have a close-up photo. Sorry, but the S/N was scratched out. There is a remnant that I'm trying to decipher, but I think I'll have to send it to the FBI for x-ray analysis. Harry Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jc_braconi Posted January 27, 2012 Share #11 Posted January 27, 2012 Sorry, but the S/N was scratched out. There is a remnant that I'm trying to decipher, but I think I'll have to send it to the FBI for x-ray analysis. Harry can you try to take picts about the s/n not directly on top but try one from little tilt at right and one on little tilt at left. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pecole Posted January 27, 2012 Share #12 Posted January 27, 2012 can you try to take picts about the s/n not directly on top but try one from little tilt at right and one on little tilt at left. C'est à la DST qu'on vous a appris ça? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jc_braconi Posted January 27, 2012 Share #13 Posted January 27, 2012 ... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
hlockwood Posted January 27, 2012 Author Share #14 Posted January 27, 2012 can you try to take picts about the s/n not directly on top but try one from little tilt at right and one on little tilt at left. OK, will do later. Right now I'm up to my *ss in refilling ink carts. Maybe the DST will do a better job. Harry Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
hlockwood Posted January 27, 2012 Author Share #15 Posted January 27, 2012 can you try to take picts about the s/n not directly on top but try one from little tilt at right and one on little tilt at left. Well, Chief Inspector Braconi, that turned out to be more productive than I anticipated. I still have to process the pics and will put them up later. But my impression is that the S/N is R296520. The first character is rather messed up, but if it can be a letter rather than a number, then it is most likely the letter R. Harry Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jerzy Posted January 27, 2012 Share #16 Posted January 27, 2012 SN must late 9xxxx or early 1xxxxx -" lavatory" seat Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jc_braconi Posted January 27, 2012 Share #17 Posted January 27, 2012 Well, Chief Inspector Braconi, that turned out to be more productive than I anticipated. I still have to process the pics and will put them up later. But my impression is that the S/N is R296520. The first character is rather messed up, but if it can be a letter rather than a number, then it is most likely the letter R. Harry The s/n on this model start with N 0 so it can be N 0 96520 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
hlockwood Posted January 27, 2012 Author Share #18 Posted January 27, 2012 The s/n on this model start with N 0 so it can be N 0 96520 That's it! I've been working them over in Photoshop, and the first two characters are N and a raised, smaller font o with an underline that is aligned with the bottom of the N. No doubt about it. Great detective work! Maybe the DST could use you after all. So, we now have a Leica IID, S/N 96520 and a Hector 50mm f/2.5 with SN 94356. Is there anything more that can be said about this camera? Harry Edit: I did look into your very impressive Leica web site and learned quite a bit more. Thanks. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jc_braconi Posted January 27, 2012 Share #19 Posted January 27, 2012 Great detective work! Maybe the DST could use you after all. Harry I am retired from That's it! Is there anything more that can be said about this camera? Harry Please remove the dust ... and put a roll in it, I am sure something will happens in between You and the camera. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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