bowdie Posted April 25, 2009 Share #1 Posted April 25, 2009 Advertisement (gone after registration) Hi all, I stumbled onto a nice old M3 in a local antiques market today. He seemed in reasonable working order, just wondered what people thought about the price? Here's a link to an iphone photo of it, shame I didn't have my digilux 2 with me for recursive Leica photography! 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! Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/83211-m3-spotted-in-local-market/?do=findComment&comment=881472'>More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted April 25, 2009 Posted April 25, 2009 Hi bowdie, Take a look here M3 Spotted in local market. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
earleygallery Posted April 25, 2009 Share #2 Posted April 25, 2009 'Very rare' LOL Price is OK as long as its all good (if its not a camera shop then its not going to come with a g'tee so basically like buying off e bay). Lens looks like a 2.8 Elmar ? I'd point out that its not rare at all and offer £450. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bowdie Posted April 25, 2009 Author Share #3 Posted April 25, 2009 oh, so my dreams of filthy ebay lucre have been dashed. Still - it was lovely to hold a M3, it's only the second Leica I've played with to date. I stupidly didn't pay much attention to the lens, but I'd say you're right with the elmar, it was collapsible if that helps you narrow it down. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
earleygallery Posted April 25, 2009 Share #4 Posted April 25, 2009 Actually I note its an early version pre frame selection lever. I'm not sure that they command a premium price however. Whatever, its a 'user' camera. Go on, make them an offer! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
luigi bertolotti Posted April 25, 2009 Share #5 Posted April 25, 2009 Well, probably it's not SO rare, but neither it is one of the most common... I mean, it lacks the frame selector lever, so it is a "first series" ... # 700.000 to 785.800, surely double stroke; this is a historically valued model, and it had also a number of variants during its 1-2 years of production (1954-1955): it would be worth to give a close look to it (or, at least, see the serial number): some variants are indeed rather rare, even if , looking at the pic, seems to me it is not from the very first series (about 500) which has a distinctive less smooth raccord between the small finder window and the top. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
luigi bertolotti Posted April 25, 2009 Share #6 Posted April 25, 2009 James, I knew you had to notice it... ... our posts interlocked... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
NZDavid Posted April 25, 2009 Share #7 Posted April 25, 2009 Advertisement (gone after registration) That looks like two lenshoods -- an early 35/50 inside another deeper one, possibly a 90. And is that an extra lens in the black case? Or is it for the brass cylinder? What is that exactly? If so, and there are two lenses, it's certainly good value. Check out other Leica dealers for comparison prices. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dkCambridgeshire Posted April 25, 2009 Share #8 Posted April 25, 2009 Before making an offer make sure the viefinder/rangefinder is clear and working properly ... they can deteriorate over the years and are expensive to repair. Similarly check the lens as well and make sure it has no balsam separation or scratches or fungus ... Older Mk I 50/2.8 Elmars do not wear well. Cheers dunk Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
giordano Posted April 25, 2009 Share #9 Posted April 25, 2009 That looks like two lenshoods -- an early 35/50 inside another deeper one, possibly a 90. And is that an extra lens in the black case? Or is it for the brass cylinder? What is that exactly? If so, and there are two lenses, it's certainly good value. Check out other Leica dealers for comparison prices. The longer hood is for 90 and 135mm lenses. The "brass cylinder" is a Leica reloadable film cassette, which fits in the black case, which IIRC has a slightly roughened white disc on the end where you can pencil in the film you loaded the cassette with. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
aauckland Posted April 25, 2009 Share #10 Posted April 25, 2009 Am I correct in saying the rewind knob shows 2 dots? (....or am I just seeing Martian canals.) Note; Position of timer set lever. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
luigi bertolotti Posted April 26, 2009 Share #11 Posted April 26, 2009 Am I correct in saying the rewind knob shows 2 dots?(....or am I just seeing Martian canals.) Note; Position of timer set lever. Mmmmh... I tried to download and enlarge the pic... but phone taken pics are terrible... imho nothing can be stated about the rewind knob dot(s)... and the s/n is completely unreadable; the selftimer lever is in a "half-charged" position... can be that the owner thinks that a medium tensioning of the mechanism is the best way to preserve it... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bowdie Posted April 26, 2009 Author Share #12 Posted April 26, 2009 Sorry about the lack of detail in the photo, I was more going for a "hey, look what I saw" type pic. In the photo's defense, it was through a sheet of glass and being lit with those crappy little display spotlights. I remember seeing the serial number was in the high 700's (for some reason 760 something springs to mind) I don't have anything like the spare income to buy this, but if anyone is local, it was in the antiques market in Gloucester docks. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dkCambridgeshire Posted April 26, 2009 Share #13 Posted April 26, 2009 Sorry about the lack of detail in the photo, I was more going for a "hey, look what I saw" type pic. In the photo's defense, it was through a sheet of glass and being lit with those crappy little display spotlights. I remember seeing the serial number was in the high 700's (for some reason 760 something springs to mind) I don't have anything like the spare income to buy this, but if anyone is local, it was in the antiques market in Gloucester docks. 140 dealers' rooms on 5 floors ... there are some decent items on sale but also lots of quite ordinary stuff. I bought a Spitfire clock there last year after haggling with the dealer over the phone using one of the warehouse staff as a go-between. Very few dealers were on site ... they seem to use the warehouse as an overspill and sales are handled by the warehouse staff ... one or two per floor . Docks are worth a visit for photographic opportunities Gloucester Docks & the Sharpness Canal Cheers dunk Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
luigi bertolotti Posted April 26, 2009 Share #14 Posted April 26, 2009 Sorry about the lack of detail in the photo, I was more going for a "hey, look what I saw" type pic. In the photo's defense, it was through a sheet of glass and being lit with those crappy little display spotlights. I remember seeing the serial number was in the high 700's (for some reason 760 something springs to mind) I don't have anything like the spare income to buy this, but if anyone is local, it was in the antiques market in Gloucester docks. 760.xxx can be consistent with the look... If with good mech and optics, this could be a rather nice buy. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
earleygallery Posted April 26, 2009 Share #15 Posted April 26, 2009 James, I knew you had to notice it... ... our posts interlocked... Don't know how I missed it first time Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpattison Posted April 29, 2009 Share #16 Posted April 29, 2009 David Stephens has M3 700078 for sale! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted April 29, 2009 Share #17 Posted April 29, 2009 Imo it is a second series DS, as it is lacking the small screws in the front of the top cover.(Changed in 1954/1955) But it still lacks the frame selector lever. With the number 760xxxx it can be dated to 1955 as the frameselector lever came in 1955 with #785801. It should still have the glass film pressure plate, but that would make it a moderately rare original one, as most of the plates were changed during the life of the camera. Many were converted to single-stroke as well. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
luigi bertolotti Posted April 29, 2009 Share #18 Posted April 29, 2009 Yes, various "upgrades" could have been made... for this breed of M3s a close look should be important expecially to verify the "level" of originality. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Ron (Netherlands) Posted April 30, 2009 Share #19 Posted April 30, 2009 Well, probably it's not SO rare, but neither it is one of the most common... I mean, it lacks the frame selector lever, so it is a "first series" ... # 700.000 to 785.800, surely double stroke; this is a historically valued model, and it had also a number of variants during its 1-2 years of production (1954-1955): it would be worth to give a close look to it (or, at least, see the serial number): some variants are indeed rather rare, even if , looking at the pic, seems to me it is not from the very first series (about 500) which has a distinctive less smooth raccord between the small finder window and the top. Luigi, could you please provide more info about what you meant with the last sentence. thanks in advance Ron btw was the selftimer introduced as from the first model, or as with the framelever, as from a certain production unit? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
doubice Posted April 30, 2009 Share #20 Posted April 30, 2009 ........btw was the selftimer introduced as from the first model, or as with the framelever, as from a certain production unit? The selftimer was present from the first M3, the preview lever from no. 785801, as Jaap stated above. However, the preview lever could be retrofitted by the factory or independent technicians so, even early M3's can be found with this feature. Best, Jan Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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