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Grandfather's Leica


bnr

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I was going through my stuff and came along my grandpa's camera. He was a professional photographer at the childrens hospital in Downtown LA. Could you guys tell me when it was made and it's worth. Thank you

 

Leica DBP Nr.987728

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The IIIg was the last of the thread-mount Leicas, listed from 1957 to 1960. This is generally regarded as the most useable of the TM Leicas, and quite sought after--though with the present money turmoil, and on a different continent, I cannot give you any prices.

 

The thing between the two lenses in the top picture is a VIOOH universal finder, useable with lenses from 35 to 135mm (and 28mm with accessory TUVOO). The conical part is to point forward. You turn the marked ring to get the apprpriate image field. The camera finder has bright frames for 50 and 90mm lenses only. There is also a parallax compensation lever on the VIOOH that should be used for shots closer than c. 3 meters or 10 ft.

 

It would be interesting if you could tell us what the engraving on the front rings of the lenses say.

 

Your grandfather was clearly a careful man and the kit seems to be in very good condition. Your attitude to the camera depends very much on your attitude to your grandpa. I would keep it, probably let it have a professional CLA (cleaning-lubrication-adjustment) and take some pictures with it occasionally. This is actually the best way to preserve fine old cameras. Left idle, lubricants harden and the mechanics gum up.

 

The old man from the Age of the Leica IIIa

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Hi

 

Value depends so much on condition - cosmetic and functional. We cannot tell from a photo if the shutter is working, the curtains are good, the rangefinder is OK and the lens is clean, for example.

 

The other lenses are for a Nikon SLR (have you found a Nikon camera anywhere?).

 

lllg's have come down in value generally and it would be wise to hang onto it because they will certainly increase in value again IMO. Ebay completed auctions are a good indicator of trade value. Retailers in the UK sell lllg's for anything from about £400-£1000 (a few years ago you would be lucky to find them for much less than £1K).

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would anyone be able to give me an est. value at this point. Starting new semester in college and this would help pay for my books

 

You would be OUT OF YOUR MIND to exchange this family heirloom with its interesting history for a few books. You will regret it big time later in life.

 

As said above. Have it serviced, buy a couple of rolls of film and take it out for a walk. If you need an owner's manual I'm sure someone here can point you to one (or Google it). Honour your Granpa's memory by using it. You'll also be pleasantly surprised how much fun these cameras are.

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You would be OUT OF YOUR MIND to exchange this family heirloom with its interesting history for a few books. You will regret it big time later in life.

 

 

Seconded. We don't OWN these cameras... we look after them for the next generation. They need to be used. That is the best tribute that you can give your grandfather, and will bring you closer to him. This may not seem important to you now, but, believe me, it is.

 

Regards,

 

Bill

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Michael and Bill... me too share your visions about finding such a little treasure... but not everyone is like us... ;)... after all, if none would sell a Leica he doesn't know what to do of, probably the collector's market would be a quarter of what it is...

If this young guy would like to sell... OK a IIIg is a sure value :o

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