PG Black nickel Posted July 18, 2020 Share #1 Posted July 18, 2020 Advertisement (gone after registration) I just won an auction on Ebay (sorry Luigi) but at 45 € it was a good deal for a fodis #28002 in good condition in its leather case...You can sometimes do business on Ebay. Comparing with the ones I've found in the past years, I see that none of them are similar, some have flat head screws, some have domed screws, some have numbers, some have numbers without...engraved with mtr or meter, DRP or without, well none of them are the same. For the serial numbers, the oldest one is N°5061 and the most recent is N°28002 ! Do you know if there are fodis with 3 digits ? and at which Leitz numbers to stop production. The oldest is certainly the black FOKIN which has the very old logo "condenser symbol" probably from the years 1926/27 with the R of Wetzlar going upwards (see photo). Philippe 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! 4 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/311464-fodis-fofer-and-other-rangefinders/?do=findComment&comment=4011164'>More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted July 18, 2020 Posted July 18, 2020 Hi PG Black nickel, Take a look here Fodis, Fofer and other rangefinders. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
alan mcfall Posted July 18, 2020 Share #2 Posted July 18, 2020 Please see the this forum posts, starting March 13, 2017 for previous analysis of the long based rangefinders, FODIS and FOFER. Just use the forum search function. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PG Black nickel Posted July 18, 2020 Author Share #3 Posted July 18, 2020 Sorry, Alan, I didn't look hard enough. It seemed odd not to have a topic on this prop. And I must say, I have the answers to my questions. Congratulations on your research. But I can't find anything about the old condenser symbol on the black Fokin, I've never seen one, except on accessories not dedicated to photography, on microscopes for instance. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pyrogallol Posted July 18, 2020 Share #4 Posted July 18, 2020 This is the only one I have, large wheel, nickel. It doesn’t have a serial number on the back. It works ok. 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/311464-fodis-fofer-and-other-rangefinders/?do=findComment&comment=4011286'>More sharing options...
Pyrogallol Posted July 18, 2020 Share #5 Posted July 18, 2020 There is information about the condenser logo in Laney’s Collectors Guide. 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/311464-fodis-fofer-and-other-rangefinders/?do=findComment&comment=4011292'>More sharing options...
PG Black nickel Posted July 18, 2020 Author Share #6 Posted July 18, 2020 The Fokin logo condenser is not mentioned in the Leica collector's guide. We also find it on very old optical equipment, microscope, etc. before 1915, like on this old condenser box, but the Fokin comes much later, about 1926 for the cinema. The W of Weztlar and the A are very different from the more recent logos. 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/311464-fodis-fofer-and-other-rangefinders/?do=findComment&comment=4011336'>More sharing options...
Pecole Posted July 19, 2020 Share #7 Posted July 19, 2020 Advertisement (gone after registration) The two "serials" engraved on FODIS in my former collection - at least the two illustrations I found in my archives - count four digits (1322 and 2681). Here are the photos. 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/311464-fodis-fofer-and-other-rangefinders/?do=findComment&comment=4011546'>More sharing options...
PG Black nickel Posted July 19, 2020 Author Share #8 Posted July 19, 2020 it's the first one I see with the number 1322 on the side and not on the back. I didn't see if on Alan's (March 2017 post) there was one! Décidément Leica nous étonnera toujours ! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
willeica Posted July 19, 2020 Share #9 Posted July 19, 2020 The Leitz rangefinders were not just made for Leicas , as you know. You will have noted that some of the ones shown above have much closer focus limits than any Leica lens would permit at that time. I have a few Leitz rangefinders, mainly FODIS , FOFER and FOKOS. Some have serial numbers and others do not. As for the logo developments, your best bet is to look at microscopes which seem to have had the condenser logo from the early 1900s. I have seen 19th Century microscopes with logos on various parts, but these could have been later additions or substitutions. As far as I can see, the early Klapp and Moment cameras (pre Leica) made by Leitz do not appear to have carried the condenser logo and neither do the early Summar lenses which appeared on those cameras. William Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
derleicaman Posted July 20, 2020 Share #10 Posted July 20, 2020 An interesting observation about the Leitz condenser logo. Prior to my Wetzlar tour in 2019, I had a number of polo shirts custom embroidered for the people on my tour, and I also had some made up for some of my friends in Wetzlar, such as Stefan Daniel and Andreas Kaufmann. When I gave Stefan his shirt, his response shocked me. He called it the “coffin logo”. I was taken a back as I had never heard this before. Apparently, the logo’s cross section resembles that of an old German coffin! 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jerzy Posted July 20, 2020 Share #11 Posted July 20, 2020 Am 18.7.2020 um 17:17 schrieb PG Black nickel: I just won an auction on Ebay (sorry Luigi) but at 45 € it was a good deal for a fodis #28002 in good condition in its leather case.. Congratulation! Even if it would need repair it is a very good deal! My earliest is 3 digit, without DRP 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! In Vidom (magazine of Leica Historica Germany) number 111 ftrom 2016 Lars Netopil published an article about early Fodis - already in 1923, no condensor logo, no serial number Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! In Vidom (magazine of Leica Historica Germany) number 111 ftrom 2016 Lars Netopil published an article about early Fodis - already in 1923, no condensor logo, no serial number ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/311464-fodis-fofer-and-other-rangefinders/?do=findComment&comment=4012141'>More sharing options...
Pyrogallol Posted November 9, 2020 Share #12 Posted November 9, 2020 (edited) On 7/18/2020 at 7:00 PM, Pyrogallol said: This is the only one I have, large wheel, nickel. It doesn’t have a serial number on the back. It works ok. 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! Just found/bought another. All black FOKIN with case. In nice cosmetic condition but the rangefinder double image has faded out, it is only just visible in the strongest light but the distance indicated seems accurate. Don’t know if it’s possible to bring the faded double image back? The lettering looks to be a later style, no number on the back, mid 30’s ? Edited November 9, 2020 by Pyrogallol 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PG Black nickel Posted November 9, 2020 Author Share #13 Posted November 9, 2020 Hi Pyrogallol, I have repaired several Fodis that had this problem, after disassembling the lower part and cleaning the glass of its old tain(translucent mirror), I put a film like the ones we stick on the windows of offices to prevent us from seeing inside and it works very well . 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PG Black nickel Posted November 9, 2020 Author Share #14 Posted November 9, 2020 Of course you have to use mirror effect film... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
willeica Posted November 9, 2020 Share #15 Posted November 9, 2020 None of my FODIS /FODUA rangefinders have a serial number other than the one which came with I Model A feet scale/close focus SN 35962 with the SN 35914 on the back of the rangefinder. None of my FOFER or FOKOS rangefinders have SNs. I recently received information that my I Model A SN 11270 was issued in September 1928 with a FODIS/FODUA with the serial No 17973. It was issued as part of a set with a camera (with early 'low' strap loops), rangefinder and a cardboard tube with 2 FILCA cassettes all in an ETRIN case. The rangefinder in the set when I received it had no serial number. All of my equipment is genuine and, based on what I have, most of the rangefinders seem to have had no serial number. William Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wlaidlaw Posted November 10, 2020 Share #16 Posted November 10, 2020 My FODUA has a 1924 date stamped inside its leather case. I have sadly put the leather case away so carefully, that I can't now find it but the FODUA is sitting safely on my 1C standard. I suspect the case may be inside a random Leica cardboard box in the very large chest in my attic, which has over 50 Leica boxes in it. I must get round to organising that and selling off all the Leica UV/IR filters, which are all in another Leica box. I bought these for use on the M8, which I only now use for infra-red photography. Wilson Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Giuliobigazzi Posted September 7, 2023 Share #17 Posted September 7, 2023 Fodis with D.R.P. With old style condenser logo. Serial number on the side just like the one in the fontenelle collection, which Incidentally has serial 3 away from mine. Hard to see in Pecole’s photo but looks like logo on his also has the old style logo. 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/311464-fodis-fofer-and-other-rangefinders/?do=findComment&comment=4852662'>More sharing options...
RexPol Posted April 17 Share #18 Posted April 17 Maybe it is an old topic but I would like to add a photo of a rangefinder I just got my hands on. The Logo is some kind of different then the others, but maybe I'm wrong. The first letters in Leitz are connected? Could you help me to clarify when it could be dated and which model it is? Fodis? Cheers! 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/311464-fodis-fofer-and-other-rangefinders/?do=findComment&comment=5787794'>More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now