Leica I(C) 1930 Non-Standardized Matching Body-Lens Serial

[chriskonieczny]

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Hi All,

My name is Chris, I'm new to the forum. I was recently involved in an auction and purchased three Leica cameras in a lot. Two are fairly standard but one stood out. This Leica I(C) 1930 Non-Standardized with matching Body and Lens Serial. The camera appears to be working at all speeds (although I have no way to test for accuracy), the curtains look good, lens appears to be in great shape other than all the dust on the front element. Includes the matching Rangefinder, although no serial number on that. This copy does have a 50mm/135mm swinging finder mask. 

I have been able to find some info on it but not much. Even the copy at the Smithsonian (https://americanhistory.si.edu/collections/search/object/nmah_1145349) with a serial number very close to this one has been converted to standard. I'm wondering how rare this camera actually is. Does anyone here have any information on this camera that they can share with me? 

Thanks!

Chris

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[willeica]

The camera is comparatively rare and fetches a premium over the standardised version, 2995 produced v 7231 for the standardised. The serial numbers run approximately from 48,000 to 55,000 for the non standardised , but there is overlap with I Model As, of course. Some of them were standardised as were some I Model As. My example below shows a I Model A from 1930 converted to a Standard, which is a later version of the Standardised I Model C with a slimmer extendible rewind knob..

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Auction values for Non Standardised and Standardised I Model Cs are below. 

https://collectiblend.com/Cameras/Leitz/Leica-I-Mod-C-(non-standard-mount).html

https://collectiblend.com/Cameras/Leitz/Leica-I-Mod-C.html

Hope this is of assistance 

William 

Edited June 30, 2021 by willeica

[Pecole]

On 7/1/2021 at 12:01 AM, willeica said:

The camera is comparatively rare and fetches a premium over the standardised version, 2995 produced v 7231 for the standardised. The serial numbers run approximately from 48,000 to 55,000 for the non standardised , but there is overlap with I Model As, of course. Some of them were standardised as were some I Model As. My example below shows a I Model A from 1930 converted to a Standard, which is a later version of the Standardised I Model C with a slimmer extendible rewind knob..

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!

Auction values for Non Standardised and Standardised I Model Cs are below. 

https://collectiblend.com/Cameras/Leitz/Leica-I-Mod-C-(non-standard-mount).html

https://collectiblend.com/Cameras/Leitz/Leica-I-Mod-C.html

Hope this is of assistance 

William 

Here is a photo of one of my non-stadardized Leica I. Normally, the earliest models had the same numero (serial) of five digits engraved on the three lenses. The one I illustrate is a later model, where only the three last digits of the serial are engraved on the three lenses.

Incidentally, the distance meter is not the one associated with this set : yours is a FOKOS (horizontal with "foot"), the"real" one is a FODIS. See my illustrations.