Please could you help me Identify this Historic Leica?

[Paul20]

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Hi All, 

I'm a bit confused by the age of this camera and lens. I wonder if you might help.

Serial number of camera is 37599

Serial number of lens is 374328

Using this website https://www.cameraquest.com/ltmnum.htm

The camera appears to be from 1930 and is a Leica I and the lens 1941/42. But I'm not sure about this.

Can anyone help me please? 

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[Anbaric]

Camera and (interchangeable) lens serial numbers are separate. Your lens is from 1937:

https://wiki.l-camera-forum.com/leica-wiki.en/index.php/Elmar_(II)_f%3D_9_cm_1:4

Cameras were often converted to a higher spec model at the factory, so one that started as a Leica I might be upgraded to a Leica II:

https://wiki.l-camera-forum.com/leica-wiki.en/index.php/Leica_I_(model_A)

https://wiki.l-camera-forum.com/leica-wiki.en/index.php/Leica_II_(model_D)

The serial number suggests your camera has had this upgrade. You can contact info@leica-camera.com with the serial number and ask if they have a record of how the camera was originally delivered and the upgrade.

Edited November 21, 2024 by Anbaric

[Paul20]

Anbaric,

 

Thank you. There serial number does not appear I the Leica II list but is in the Leica I list. Do you think it is an upgraded Leica I?

 

[Anbaric]

21 minutes ago, Paul20 said:

Thank you. There serial number does not appear I the Leica II list but is in the Leica I list. Do you think it is an upgraded Leica I?

Yes, the upgraded camera would keep the old serial number. At the time of the upgrade, the original fixed 5cm (50mm) lens would also have been converted to an interchangeable lens, which I guess you don't have? (lenses converted in this way don't have their own serial numbers). If this is a camera you are going to use, it's worth getting a standard interchangeable 50mm lens, like the 5cm Elmar. The built-in viewfinder is designed for a lens of this focal length - to take photos with the 9cm (90mm) lens that is currently mounted you need a separate viewfinder that fits in the accessory shoe, like this one:

https://wiki.l-camera-forum.com/leica-wiki.en/index.php/SGVOO

Edited November 21, 2024 by Anbaric

[Paul20]

Thank you Anbaric,

 

I sold a collapsable 50mm LTM stupidly. I don't think the Lens 90mm lens is worth much do you think the camera is worth anything? 

[Anbaric]

Requests for valuations are discouraged by the moderators, I'm afraid. You might look at what similarly converted cameras have fetched in recent completed auctions on ebay and elsewhere, or what the specialist dealers are asking. The Collectiblend site also collates prices cameras have sold for in the past (though note that values can change a lot over time).

 

[Paul20]

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Thank you very much for your help