1936 Leica III, CLA or not ?

[Garyn]

Hello Leica Aficionados,

I recently bought a black paint 1936 Leica III with a 50mm Summar,with leather case, and original import certificate from Great Britain dated 1936, the camera is in remarkable condition for its age, no brassing, and appears never to have been taken apart or repaired, I have been told by some people that having it taken apart or CLA'd could devalue the camera, I have already run a couple rolls of film through the camera and had fun using it, the ranger finder is accurate , the slow shutter speed don't work. Any thoughts from members here I would appreciate, thanks.

Gary

 

[littlefields]

Anyone who tells you that servicing a camera will diminish its value is probably someone who hasn't a clue about cameras. By all means, have it serviced and continue to use it and enjoy it. Leitz didn't make these to sit on shelves...they made them for people to use.

 

[cambolt]

^+1
If you enjoy shooting it why not? It's awfully expensive for a shelf ornament. If you don't want to use it, why not sell it off and by a serviced chrome one that you wouldn't be afraid to use and service? Besides, most people on here seem to pay more for a serviced barnack than one that has fallen into disrepair and seized

 

[bhop73]

Anyone who tells you that servicing a camera will diminish its value is probably someone who hasn't a clue about cameras. By all means, have it serviced and continue to use it and enjoy it. Leitz didn't make these to sit on shelves...they made them for people to use.

I agree. If you plan to use it and the slow shutter speeds aren't working, then get it fixed. If all you want is a shelf queen, then I guess it might not be worth the extra cash, but personally, I'd rather put it to use.

It looks awesome btw..

 

[Robert Lai]

Fix it, use it (carefully).

 

[rxmd]

Anyone who tells you that servicing a camera will diminish its value is probably someone who hasn't a clue about cameras. By all means, have it serviced and continue to use it and enjoy it. Leitz didn't make these to sit on shelves...they made them for people to use.

Actually I'm siding with the collectors here (which is a rare thing for me to do). There is a collector's value, and a user's value. Those are different things. Collector's value is material, user's value isn't. Leica collectors are crazy people and servicing a never-serviced camera may indeed be considered a diminishing of its material value by some. User's value won't suffer from service of course, but collector's value may.

If you have a camera that has a collector's value, and you want a good user, it might be a good idea to keep the collectors' camera the way it is and buy a nice user camera in addition. Personally I don't like the idea of a shelf queen and think cameras were meant to be used, but now that you have a strong shelf queen candidate it is probably a better idea to keep the shelf queen the way it is, rather than turn it into a user on principle. A Leica III in non-collectible, good user condition isn't that expensive.

Obligatory car analogy here - if you inherit, say, a 1932 Duesenberg Model J in good and 100% original condition, of course you can use it for driving it around for your groceries, and indeed cars were made for driving around. So if you're not emotionally attached to doing your groceries with the Duesy, and you don't have to prove a point or make a statement about what cars were meant and not meant to do, it might be a better idea from a purely material point of view to keep the Duesenberg the way it is and do the groceries with another car.

 

[Leigh Youdale]

I don't know enough about the early Leicas to be sure, but I was under the impression that this model did not come with slow speeds and many were modified by the factory after initial sale.
If this is the case then the idea that it has never been serviced is probably incorrect and what this may or may not do to the value is anybody's guess.
My own thoughts would be to have it serviced and enjoy using it to the full.

 

[Brian Legge]

According to the serial number this is a IIIa. The IIIs have the originally had slow speeds, while the IIs do not.

 

[raydm6]

Beautiful specimen! 🙂

 

[Vince Lupo]

According to the serial number this is a IIIa.

According to the Rogliatti book that I have, it is a III (in the batch of 191351-191500, ca. 1936).

If you want to use it and fully enjoy it, get it CLA'd. If anything, I'd think that it would add to the value of the camera should you decide to sell it.

It is beauty -- I'm very jealous!

 

[Simon Bruxelles]

It's very simple really. If you bought the camera as an investment and want to keep it in its current condition, don't use it. In fact, don't even pick it up unless you are wearing cotton gloves. But if you want to use it get it serviced. If you don't, sooner or later it will need a service and then you will be back to square one, only with a non functional camera, and anything you saved by not getting it serviced now will have been lost.

 

[haempe]

Ottmar Michaely would be a good compromise to have both, function + collectors value.
I doubt any leica collector would have a problem with a repair by him...

 

[David Hughes]

I think someone is confusing the much later models with the little seal over the screw head and the "L" stamped on it.

If an early one (say 30's or 40's) was properly serviced then - apart from analysing the oils etc - I don't think anyone could tell: unless, of course, the screw heads or something else was damaged in the process. But that's not what I call a service.

Regards, David

 

[MaxElmar]

Beautiful - if you want to use it, you shouldn't think twice about having it serviced. Then use and enjoy. Be sure to use a reputable tech and your camera will be fine. If you REALLY like using it, get another, less pretty one to use in rough environments.

 

[Garyn]

Thanks everyone for your responses I was leaning towards having it fixed so I have given, Jerry at Kindermann Canada the go ahead to do a CLA on my Leica III. I am looking forward to having it fixed, of course I like a nice looking camera, but I would like it to operate as good as it looks too !

 

[Brian Legge]

According to the Rogliatti book that I have, it is a III (in the batch of 191351-191500, ca. 1936).

You are right of course.

...I read the serial number as 161466. 😱

 

[Vince Lupo]

Thanks everyone for your responses I was leaning towards having it fixed so I have given, Jerry at Kindermann Canada the go ahead to do a CLA on my Leica III. I am looking forward to having it fixed, of course I like a nice looking camera, but I would like it to operate as good as it looks too !

Gerry Smith is great -- your camera will be in good hands!

 

[colyn]

According to the serial number this is a IIIa. The IIIs have the originally had slow speeds, while the IIs do not.

Leica III from 1936.

The III has top speed of 1/500th while the IIIa has a top speed of 1/1000th

 

[colyn]

Cameras are made to use....not sit on a shelf.

Get it serviced....

 

[al1966]

It looks a beautiful camera it would be a tragedy if she was not being used, get her serviced and enjoy her.