dkCambridgeshire Posted June 9, 2007 Share #1 Posted June 9, 2007 Advertisement (gone after registration) Yesterday achieved an ambition of buying a WW2 Luftwaffen issue Leica IIIb with 50/3.5 Elmar ... both engraved Luftwaffen-Eigentum . Over the years I have seen a few Luftwaffen cameras offered for sale but was never sure if they were genuine or fake and my knowledge was limited as regarding establishing authenticity. Then a few weeks back a dealer was offering a copy of the book "30 Jahre Leica Historica 1975-2005 'Screwmount cameras with military engravings (WWII)' " which lists serial numbers and delivery dates of Leica cameras and lenses shipped to the German military during 1939/44 ... as extracted from official Leitz records by Dott. Luigi Cane. The book proved so useful in establishing the authenticity of my intended purchase. But, it is not absolutely definitive as it does not claim to list every WW2 German military issue ... however, most appear to be in there. And has been interesting comparing the very few WW2 miltary Leica cameras currently listed by dealers ... two of them do NOT appear in the book .. this does not prove that they are fakes ... they could be genuine ... but provenance/authenticity might not be quite so proveable. And unfortunately the book cannot authenticate those cameras with serial numbers and or engravings that have been erased/filed or damaged ... have seen a few of those offered for sale recently. Dunk Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted June 9, 2007 Posted June 9, 2007 Hi dkCambridgeshire, Take a look here WW2 Luftwaffen Cameras. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
dkCambridgeshire Posted June 9, 2007 Author Share #2 Posted June 9, 2007 Ref the Luftwaffen IIIb purchased .. the shutter release button is enclosed in 'miniature lampshade' approx 14mm in diameter ... so that the whole shutter release button and 'shade' resembles a "miniature studio light" in appearance ... and there is no provision for a cable release. Presumably the 'shade' might make operation easier for a gloved hand? I have not come across this type of shutter release on a Leica before ... can anyone advise if this is usual on a military Leica? The camera also has a single flash contact terminal (near the slow speed dial) which presumably was added postwar. Thanks for reading Dunk Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jhild Posted June 10, 2007 Share #3 Posted June 10, 2007 The shutter release button on a IIIb is/looks exactly the same as on a IIIa.If your´s is looking different it could be a fake. If there is a Luftwaffen engraving it could be a fake,too, some people in Eastern Europe are very busy with that.Can you show some pics? Jo Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dkCambridgeshire Posted June 10, 2007 Author Share #4 Posted June 10, 2007 Have since found some photos of this type of shutter release on several Leica screw cameras ... and established they are 'soft releases' ... And I checked the serial numbers before purchase ... the serial numbers agree with official Leitz records for deliveries to Luftwaffen Berlin in 1940 ... previous post on this thread refers. Dunk Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
stunsworth Posted June 10, 2007 Share #5 Posted June 10, 2007 ... the serial numbers agree with official Leitz records for deliveries to Luftwaffen Berlin in 1940 ... Dunk, by itself this is no indication of whether the camera is a fake or not. If you can find this out so can a potential forger. People will be able to give a better idea as to id this is genuine if you post a couple of snaps. In particular the rangefinder arm inside the throat of the lens - is it a circular roller or wedge shaped? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dkCambridgeshire Posted June 10, 2007 Author Share #6 Posted June 10, 2007 Dunk, by itself this is no indication of whether the camera is a fake or not. If you can find this out so can a potential forger. People will be able to give a better idea as to id this is genuine if you post a couple of snaps. In particular the rangefinder arm inside the throat of the lens - is it a circular roller or wedge shaped? Do you mean the rangefinder arm in the throat of the camera body? Dunk Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
stunsworth Posted June 10, 2007 Share #7 Posted June 10, 2007 Advertisement (gone after registration) Yes Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dkCambridgeshire Posted June 10, 2007 Author Share #8 Posted June 10, 2007 Yes Have sent you a pm which advises where camera purchased. Dunk Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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