135 Hektor with "Heer" marking

[alan mcfall]

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There was a brief discussion of 'Heer' marked Leitz items in this forum in 1917. Per the experts, Heer items are not well identified in the remaining factory records, only a few cameras, and it is unlikely to find lenses or accessories so listed. A few key questions were brought forth: were the Heer products built/delivered in batches or just pretty much at random or as requested by the Wehrmacht? Were the Heer engravings applied at Wetzlar or after delivery to Berlin or elsewhere?

As to the first question, the  Heer cameras do pretty much seem random, but I mentioned that some 15 cameras had been observed between 379599 and 379978. This is the only observed possible grouping that I have found. Perhaps one large order but the remainder as requested.

As to where the stampings were applied I have no insight. But think it may be both in Wetzlar and also at a delivered location. This week I received an additional Heer item to add to my collection.  I purchased a common 135 Hektor with case for a few dollars. When received and examined, I noted strange writing on the top of the case, see photo. Normally these cases have the E. Leitz wetzlar condenser logo on the bottom. Here the top had  E. Leitz  Berlin N. W., the eagle with swastika and the acceptance stamp  WaA217. That got my attention, and I wondered if the lens was also special. I missed it at first, but at the rear flange it is engraved Heer.  Had they been together for 80 years?

The lens is serial 539846, a quick check of Lager shows an nearly identical  Heer lens at 539860 only 14 units away. Delivered 19.3.41 to Berlin.  Berlin N. W. was the location where many military items were sent for "acceptance" and distribution. Now I have the additional question, were the items and their leather cases, shipped together, accepted together and stamped together? Also, it would have made sense to have "acceptance" at the factory.

Many military arms collectors had compiled lists of the stamps that were used by the department that accepted military items.  There may be numbers from WaA001 to 999. I cannot find any list that has the WaA217 mark that I have. Can anyone confirm that WaA217 is for Leitz items?  I have never seen a Wehrmacht item with the acceptance stamp, just on the case. I hope someone can add information to these questions so that we can know as much about the Heer items as we do the Luftwaffen items.

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[kaya]

Hello Alan, very nice your hefar heer and your set. My camera heer has serial 379681 with summitar 561865, both delivery 25993 to Berlin 25/09/41. My hefar has serial 558660, del. 25483 30/08/41. I have not the lens case, but the camera case has the same stamp WaA217 with eagle and swastika. And then, the case of my hefar luftwaffe has the same stamp of yours, with Berlin N.W. Regarding these stamps on the cases, I quote the words of one much more expert then me: the WaA217 brand was of a manufacturer from Berlin (B&C) who worked during the war on behalf of third parties (in this case Leitz) producing bags, and was subject to verification by the Abnahme (army acceptance office) by embossing the stamps before the dispatch of the orders (the Abnahme was itself subsidiary to the Heereswaffenamt).

I attach some picture

 

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[alan mcfall]

Many thanks. I was now able to locate B & C in the published lists.

217      Boxes       Biedermann & Czarnikow Berlin (Be) 1936

I am still not sure if the "Heer" stamp was applied to the camera and lens before leaving Wetzlar or after arriving in Berlin.