Guest Posted August 31, 2022 Share #1 Ā Posted August 31, 2022 Advertisement (gone after registration) My bellows II has a red Leitz Wetzlar logo. Most pictures of the bellows II on the internet show a dark grey logo. Does anyone here know whether later bellows II units were delivered with a red logo and if so, when this change took place? Thanks! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted August 31, 2022 Posted August 31, 2022 Hi Guest, Take a look here Bellows II with red Leitz logo. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
luigi bertolotti Posted August 31, 2022 Share #2 Ā Posted August 31, 2022 (edited) I'm almost sure to have never seen a Bellows II with red logo... can you post a picture ? My hipotesis, not supported by any evidence, is that when they introduced the Bellows R for Leicaflex (which had by sure a red logo, at least for some time... my one has a black one, but is rather recent) , they decided tu put this new "component" also on the Bellows II... in which years were the 2 bellows manufactured both ?Ā I don't know.when the Bellows R was inroduced... Ā Edited August 31, 2022 by luigi bertolotti Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted August 31, 2022 Share #3 Ā Posted August 31, 2022 (edited) 1 hour ago, luigi bertolotti said: I'm almost sure to have never seen a Bellows II with red logo... can you post a picture ? My hipotesis, not supported by any evidence, is that when they introduced the Bellows R for Leicaflex (which had by sure a red logo, at least for some time... my one has a black one, but is rather recent) , they decided tu put this new "component" also on the Bellows II... in which years were the 2 bellows manufactured both ?Ā I don't know.when the Bellows R was inroduced... I can think of at least four different events that may have caused a change from a grey to a red logo on the Bellows II, which was produced from 1961-1980 according to the Wiki: The introduction of the Visoflex III in 1963 (according to Laney), which also features a red logo. The introduction of the Bellows-R in 1968 (according to Laney), as you said. The introduction of the of the M4-2 inĀ 1977. The first ~100 M4-2 cameras had a red logo. The introduction of theĀ M4-P in 1980, which was the first mass-produced Leica M camera with a red logo. Given the relative scarcity of the Bellows II with red logo, at least the first option seems unlikely. Here is a quick shot of my unit: Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image hereā¦ Simply register for free here ā We are always happy to welcome new members! Edited August 31, 2022 by Studienkamera Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here ā We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/336147-bellows-ii-with-red-leitz-logo/?do=findComment&comment=4500344'>More sharing options...
luigi bertolotti Posted August 31, 2022 Share #4 Ā Posted August 31, 2022 (edited) Hair-splitting is mandatory when discussing such questions...Ā šĀ : I tend towards my original hipotesis (#2) even if your other ones are worth to consider (with 1 unilikely, as you say) : but... logos on M4-2 / M4 P do not have the "WETZLAR" writing and are smaller in diameter (I think, have not and cannot verifiy), while, looking at my 2 Bellows, the logo seems to beĀ the same component (metal - 15mm diam. , fonts "solid-stamped" - not written) painted with a different color:Ā and so is your red one : identical to my gray (bluish)Ā oneĀ Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image hereā¦ Simply register for free here ā We are always happy to welcome new members! I think (thought...) that my bellows R is not so "old"... (they aren't numbered....) so the one with the red logo can be the first version... and here's another "BUT"...Ā āŗļø... The Bellows R exists also with red logo and no WETZLAR : which looks to be a later styling of the logo itself (in the "Solms" years, there wasn't anymore relation between Leica camera and the historical town of Wetzlar) : after some search didn't find any Bellows R black logo "no wetzlar" And what can we infer ? Possible hipotesisĀ - 1st Bellows R (1968) : red logo wetzlar - same component used from thenĀ also on the Bellows II - 2nd Bellows R (year ? around end of production of Bellows II ?) : black logo wetzlar - 3rd Bellows R (year...M4 P ? M6 ?) red logo no wetzlarĀ (afaik, the red logo changed from Leitz to "Leica" in 1988... don't know exactly when Bellows R was replaced by BR2, but probably before 1988... I doubt that bellows R with "Leica" logo does exist) Ā Edited August 31, 2022 by luigi bertolotti 2 Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here ā We are always happy to welcome new members! I think (thought...) that my bellows R is not so "old"... (they aren't numbered....) so the one with the red logo can be the first version... and here's another "BUT"...Ā āŗļø... The Bellows R exists also with red logo and no WETZLAR : which looks to be a later styling of the logo itself (in the "Solms" years, there wasn't anymore relation between Leica camera and the historical town of Wetzlar) : after some search didn't find any Bellows R black logo "no wetzlar" And what can we infer ? Possible hipotesisĀ - 1st Bellows R (1968) : red logo wetzlar - same component used from thenĀ also on the Bellows II - 2nd Bellows R (year ? around end of production of Bellows II ?) : black logo wetzlar - 3rd Bellows R (year...M4 P ? M6 ?) red logo no wetzlarĀ (afaik, the red logo changed from Leitz to "Leica" in 1988... don't know exactly when Bellows R was replaced by BR2, but probably before 1988... I doubt that bellows R with "Leica" logo does exist) Ā ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/336147-bellows-ii-with-red-leitz-logo/?do=findComment&comment=4500485'>More sharing options...
Guest Posted August 31, 2022 Share #5 Ā Posted August 31, 2022 9 hours ago, luigi bertolotti said: And what can we infer ? Possible hipotesisĀ Thanks Luigi, that sounds very reasonable. Always good to know more about one's favourite Leica accessory - even if it is just about the colour of the dot š Link to post Share on other sites 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