Strange M3 on eBay...maybe a fake?

millus1974

millus1974

Film Shooter...Forever!!
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Hi, maybe this is not the right way to write the first post on the forum, but just few days ago i have found a very strange auction on ebay with an incredible M3, so i thought it was a nice idea to ask someone more expert than me about this camera:

http://cgi.ebay.it/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=290463593697&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

In the beginning there were no explanation about the size of the screw mount, the wievfinder and the frameline, then after my messages the seller put some more specific details about them and lower also the price of $ 100...
I really don't understand what is this camera, but if is a fake it's been really hard to create, the serial number seems one them from the "hole" in the list but this one doesn't look like a fake, or maybe it doesn't to my eyes, and i'm not a collector but a user of Leica (and my poor M3 and M6 are really hard used 🙂)

So maybe someone on the forum knows the answer, or maybe someone here just bought it...i just would like to understand how can exist an M3 like this...and why with M42 screw mount (this have no sense, leica should create cameras to sell their lenses and on this camera you can't mount a Leica lens...just lenses from other brand don't you think it's strange?)

Ok that's all for know, in the last mount i have found so many interesting information on this forum so i liked the idea of being able to contribute in some way...i have noticed no post about this camera, maybe because they were all in holiday on a beach 😎...but if i have done something wrong i just ask you sorry

Bye
Emiliano
 
It's certainly strange but I doubt it's a fake.

A custom job paid for by someone with way too much money???
The motivation >>> Maybe they had a collection of screw mount lenses collecting dust?
 
All I know phrase "It is a great conversation piece" used in eBay listings is a fun.
Recently I have hit a page (dang, where it is???) about various gold plated camera models. Obviously there were lots of them.
 
Somebody must have thought that it was a good idea to take a mundane M3 and make it into a "Frankenstein" camera. Exactly why I dont know? None of the stuff is beyond a regular "hacker" of cameras though.
I like the M42 mount idea - but you would have to use some kind of adapter to get the correct backfocus for vintage Pentax lenses.
The gold-plating is easy to do - strip the chrome and have a plating shop apply the gold - not difficult at all. A screw-mount M3 in itself would be interesting - but I would prefer it with a 39mm (LTM) mount ( also a bit more of a challenge as you would have to recess the mount 1mm to get correct focus (it would be easier to load than an old LTM Leica).
This one is a hybrid and not a very good one at that. Cute though.
 
Thanks, in the end it seems i have done well not buying and asking a lot of specific questions about the camera...in the beginning was described as a generic M3 gold converted in screw mount, and this was exciting for me...but when i check the serial number and i begin to ask how to switch the framelines...the price began to go lower and lower...and the reply of the seller was: "I think it's not a LTM 39, maybe it's a M42"
A really Frankenstein M3 😀

The funny thing...i was just looking for a rigid summicron and i have found this monster 😱

Emiliano
 
I'm pretty sure it's not even gold plated. I dechromed an M3 myself and this is what it looks like once the chrome is gone and the nickel remains.

Too bad its an M42 camera and not an M39.

Anybody that can identify the film advance lever?
 
"Too bad its an M42 camera and not an M39"

I'm not familiar with the difference between these two, can you all please explain it to me? I thought the M39 was the LTM screw mount Leica?
 
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