A variation on a theme...

[Dralowid]

At least I know which camera the viewfinder came from...!

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Leica-1-B...ography_VintageCameras_SM&hash=item2eca21e93e

 

[Mr_Flibble]

"Don't know if it's fake, but I'll charge 500GBP for it anyway."

 

[peterm1]

Even though my instincts say "FAKE FAKE FAKE " its a pretty nice one to look at and if the price were a quarter of what is being asked I might be tempted just for fun.

Its a little hard to tell for sure without having the thing in my hands given the amount of work its had done (most of the more obvious signs have been removed with the top cover) but apart from anything else it looks in too good condition.

However I can identify two things that jump out at me as not looking quite right - ie as probable signs that raise my suspicion.

The first is the accessory shoe which looks more like the one on a FED than on an early Leica. I have the book "Identifying Leica Cameras" open before me and on all the early Leicas the shoes has quite a noticeably different shape (The base is quite rounded, not square and there is a little "lip" in the front to stop the accessory moving too far forward).

The second is the little circular "mound" on which the shutter speed dial sits. In my Leica book, the early Leicas have this mound - but the edges of it are beveled and the name Ernst Leitz is engraved on the bevel. Quite unlike the appearance of this one which also has screw holes around the top - I cannot recall if the FED top plate has screws in this position. If so then that would reinforce my belief.

Others with more knowledge and or patience might be able to ID other signs that give it away.

 

[wolves3012]

The shutter release looks suspiciously "Zorki" to me. I'm no Leica expert but isn't the speed-mechanism cover entirely incorrect shape-wise? Nevertheless, it looks quite a neat job. The paintwork is too shiny and in too good a condition to be genuine, even ignoring the other details. I'd hedge my money heavily on "fake". Oh, and the lens engraving looks far too badly done to be an Elmar.

 

[rfaspen]

Fake. Clearly fake. Most definitely fake. Lens is an I-10. Shutter mechanism cover is...not Leica. Screws around top are Fed configuration. Arrows engraved on film advance and rewind are FSU. Shutter speeds dial is not right. Poor paint job is very obviously recent and very poorly done. I could go on. Fake! In GBP, I'd pay about 25 for it. Assuming it otherwise works.

 

[rfaspen]

Say Dralowid. I'm curious. Where did the finder come from? I'm not sure.

 

[Dralowid]

I knew someone would ask in the end so that I could display my immense and often erroneous knowledge...Balda!

Have a look at their little 35mm folders, Jubilette etc. You can even see the little brackets for the parallax correction adjuster...something the Wetzlar mob never managed until much later.

Please note that I have in no way offered an opinion about this camera and have made no criticism that could offend the seller...but reading some of the posts above it may be time for another 'is it or isn't it?' reminder thread.

All I would say is that it is overpriced for a Leica I.