valdas
Veteran
well, if it sells for what is really worth (if original) you deserve some commission from that sale 🙂
A Real Luftwaffen iiic-K?
- Thread starter Chemophilic
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well, if it sells for what is really worth (if original) you deserve some commission from that sale 🙂
Rob-F
Likes Leicas
I concur as to checking with Jim Lager. Although Leica Tom is a good resource, and will be of help, I think he would probably refer you to Jim in order to be certain.
The paint in the photo looks darker than I remember from other IIIcK photos. The serial number is a little earlier than the range Leica Tom gave in these pages some time ago (390001 to 397700); although I've seen photos of four other IIIcKs with earlier numbers.
The paint in the photo looks darker than I remember from other IIIcK photos. The serial number is a little earlier than the range Leica Tom gave in these pages some time ago (390001 to 397700); although I've seen photos of four other IIIcKs with earlier numbers.
LChanyungco
Well-known
oltimer
Well-known
The engraving on the lens and barrel appear to be pristine. Chemo, you truly are 1 in a million in what your doing for this person on this camera.
David Hughes
David Hughes
Hi,
I guess that somewhere in this world there are brand new unused ones. They were new when issued, used a couple of times then the bomber crashes and the camera is recovered from the user/wreckage. Or returned to Leitz with a fault and liberated...
There won't be many (like honest buyers) but I can recall a Leica 250 stolen from the factory and then turning up on ebay years ago.
Regards, David
I guess that somewhere in this world there are brand new unused ones. They were new when issued, used a couple of times then the bomber crashes and the camera is recovered from the user/wreckage. Or returned to Leitz with a fault and liberated...
There won't be many (like honest buyers) but I can recall a Leica 250 stolen from the factory and then turning up on ebay years ago.
Regards, David
johannielscom
Snorting silver salts
Seems very legit but the lens cap has me doubting it.
It might be it's a genuine Leica IIIc with the correct serial number that still is a repaint to air force green-gray to increase value.
That lens cap is suspicious, IIRC the lenses were fitted with a slightly domed and painted bakelite cap, not a flat and painted metal one...
A box? Does it have the same serial number written on it? That would be a first ever, I cannot recall ever having read about or actually seen an Army-issued camera with an accompanying box.
It might be it's a genuine Leica IIIc with the correct serial number that still is a repaint to air force green-gray to increase value.
That lens cap is suspicious, IIRC the lenses were fitted with a slightly domed and painted bakelite cap, not a flat and painted metal one...
A box? Does it have the same serial number written on it? That would be a first ever, I cannot recall ever having read about or actually seen an Army-issued camera with an accompanying box.
Erik van Straten
Veteran
Seen from this picture, the condition of the curtains does not match with the condition of the finish of the outer parts of the camera.
Erik.
Sparrow
Veteran
... the condition looks too good to be true
Roger Hicks
Veteran
Yeah, but how much can you judge from a photo on a computer screen? I'd want to have the camera in my hands to make a better judgement, and even then, I'd not guarantee I was right.
As David said, "I guess that somewhere in this world there are brand new unused ones."
Cheers,
R.
Vince Lupo
Whatever
Serial Number is 389078K? Am I reading that correctly? If so, it looks like it may have been in shipment 9437, 4/1/43, in a batch of 17 cameras (serial numbers 389076-389092). In Jim Lager's 'Wehrmacht Leica' book, there's a picture of 389079K on page 26.
According to Jim's book, Luftwaffe grey IIIcK's begin at 389076, and there were approximately 325 grey ones prepared. Additionally, according to Jim, "Both chrome and grey IIIc's were produced as K types engraved with K after the serial number denoting a Kugelager (ball bearing equipped) shutter as well as those not so fitted." So the fact that there isn't a K on your shutter curtain could mean that either the curtain has been replaced at some point, or it may not have had a K type shutter in the first place.
Just as a point of reference, here's one that I used to have:
One of those rare deals I got from KEH way back when.
According to Jim's book, Luftwaffe grey IIIcK's begin at 389076, and there were approximately 325 grey ones prepared. Additionally, according to Jim, "Both chrome and grey IIIc's were produced as K types engraved with K after the serial number denoting a Kugelager (ball bearing equipped) shutter as well as those not so fitted." So the fact that there isn't a K on your shutter curtain could mean that either the curtain has been replaced at some point, or it may not have had a K type shutter in the first place.
Just as a point of reference, here's one that I used to have:
One of those rare deals I got from KEH way back when.
Chemophilic
Established
Yeah I agree with you. It seems better than even my EM5. But then again, it was sitting inside a box for the past 30-40 years unused.
Regardless, seems like someone put in an offer to the owner and even offer to develop that roll of Kodachrome. I am just glad that the owner gets a fair value for this gem.
Just one last picture. That ever-ready case looks pristine and even have the words "Luftwaffen-eigentum" on the back:
And another picture of the set from the original CL posting attached. Notice the small red box is an original Leica box for the yellow filter.
Attachments
sevo
Fokutorendaburando
So who replaced the shutter, and wore the replaced one down as much as visible, without causing any wear to the body? And I don't believe in a 40 year old paint job either - back then, Luftwaffe Leicas were lucky to escape in the original grey paint scheme, if they were re-painted they usually ended black.
Chemophilic
Established
I agree with you and I don't have an answer to your question. But would sitting in a box unused eventually lead to some sort of degradation to the cloth shutter? Though the climate here in California tends to be dry and not humid.
kbg32
neo-romanticist
It wasn't always sitting in a box in California...
David Hughes
David Hughes
War time rubberised fabric is a very vague specification and a lot of weird things happened during the war to keep cameras, cars and everything else going. Well, they did in Europe, meaning both sides of the Channel.
I was talking to someone - research on something else - and he said that rubber didn't last long in those days, I forget why but it was one of his problems. He worked at Farnborough in the 30's and 40's.
Regards, David
I was talking to someone - research on something else - and he said that rubber didn't last long in those days, I forget why but it was one of his problems. He worked at Farnborough in the 30's and 40's.
Regards, David
Chemophilic
Established
Right, obviously. I didn't say that either.
How about let's rephrase the question to: would having the camera sitting there unused cause any degradations on the cloth curtain? I'm really curious to know.
David Hughes
David Hughes
Well, elastic bands don't last very long and quickly perish regardless, imo, of storage.
Regards, David
Regards, David
cassel
Well-known
"seems like someone put in an offer to the owner and even offer to develop that roll of Kodachrome"
How will they process the Kodachrome?
How will they process the Kodachrome?
Rob-F
Likes Leicas
Maybe cross-process in HC-110, XTOL, or D-76?
Rob-F
Likes Leicas
During the war Leica could not obtain the silk that was normally obtained from the USA for the curtains. So they used a red cloth that many believe was parachute cloth. The particular cloth they used, whatever it was, didn't have a very long useful life before it deteriorated.
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