Fake or real Leica II

[PeLu]

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Hi all,

 

I found this Leica. For what I can tell it seams like it’s a leica II. It comes with a hector 5cm lens.  But I don’t get the serial number to match? Looking at the serial numbers on II:s they seam to start at 7xxxx. 
 

Please help me to analyze this? Is it a faker or maybe I have the model wrong?

 

br

Peter

 

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Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members!

[PG Black nickel]

It's a Leica II, and the serial number corresponds to a 1930 Leica I (model A), later upgraded to model II, probably by Leitz.

[willeica]

20 minutes ago, PG Black nickel said:

It's a Leica II, and the serial number corresponds to a 1930 Leica I (model A), later upgraded to model II, probably by Leitz.

Correct. The other check is to ensure that the rangefinder cam is round, 

 

William 

[250swb]

10 hours ago, PeLu said:

Hi all,

 

I found this Leica. For what I can tell it seams like it’s a leica II. It comes with a hector 5cm lens.  But I don’t get the serial number to match? Looking at the serial numbers on II:s they seam to start at 7xxxx. 
 

Please help me to analyze this? Is it a faker or maybe I have the model wrong?

 

br

Peter

 

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!

Do read an instruction book before trying to use it, there is a certain order to do things in with early Leica's. 

[SpotmaticSP]

Very nice find! If the Hektor does not have a a serial number it might also be the original lens that was fitted to the I model A but now standardized (by Leitz). 

[nitroplait]

To summarise what has be said above, more or less:

You seem to have a Leica II D which was factory converted from a Leica I model A.

The lens does not have a serial number because the Leica I model A, from where the lens originally came, didn't have interchangeable lenses (lens and camera was one unit) so the lens did not have it's own serial number.
Since your camera has a Leica I model A serial number, it is very probable that the Hektor lens is the one that was mounted on the original camera.

From looking at the shutter speed dial, I am guessing your camera was converted before or at least not too long after the introduction of the Leica III (1933). Later conversions often had the shutter dial of the Leica III, yours is a Leica II dial as far as I can see. 

It is possible that the Leica Archive will have more precise information about the delivery date/location of the original Leica I A and possibly also info about when it was converted to a Leica II.
It doesn't harm to ask. (let us know the answer if you do ask them).

Everything looks very nice and I bet it will clean up beautifully.