And yet another one..

[jtm6]

Hmm... wonder if the owner sees this thread and reports it as a counterfeit product sold through eBay...

I tried to report a few counterfeit products and bogus listings on ebay. They never replied and the auctions always stayed up until they ended normally.

 

[farlymac]

Well, it's the new owners problem now. $320 is a bit much for a fake Leica. But then, some folks collect these things, and might see it as a bargain.

PF

 

[Dez]

I attempted to contact the vendor with a link to this thread, suggesting he might want to contact the buyer. I got the following not very useful reply.

Hi! I'm not arguing with You, but Russians would never use German Brand name, espetialy after WWII. You are right, Russian copy of Leica is FED (Felix Edmundovich Dzerzinsky)Chif Of (CHK) Cherezvichainaya Kommissiya, after revolution 1917,later KGB or Zorki.

Doesn't look like the vendor will come clean. The lack of articles in the vendor's text tend to suggest that his mother tongue is Russian.

Cheers,
Dez

 

[funkydog]

Ah leave em be. Let the buyer enjoy his Leica. Ya can't police the entire Ebay. There're many other sellers with questionable practices like under representing foggy lenses, bad photos that hide more than they reveal, shilling, and relisting items when the final bids in no-reserve auctions are too low for their liking.

 

[L David Tomei]

Curiously, a Leica I Model A built in 1930 with the same serial number is specifically listed on the Leica Club site at http://leicaclub.net/leicaclub2001/guide/serial_number/Camera Serial Number(1).htm.

Although some 50mm Industar lenses can be rather good, most aren't. The one pictured appears to be an Industar for a couple reasons including the fact that the iris appears to be placed immediately in front of the rear element.

Fakes have crept into many top level auctions and into the collections of Leica experts and that will continue. However, there doesn't seem to be any practical means of controling this problem.

 

[jarski]

Ah leave em be. Let the buyer enjoy his Leica. Ya can't police the entire Ebay. There're many other sellers with questionable practices like under representing foggy lenses, bad photos that hide more than they reveal, shilling, and relisting items when the final bids in no-reserve auctions are too low for their liking.

those are "only" bad eBay practices. but producing a fake and selling as authentic is not much different to printing your own money. nobody can police eBay, but people who are interested these things should be aware about the risks involved.

 

[Dralowid]

never knew I's were/are faked as well. good information. been thinking non-RF Barnack as platform for CV12.

Word of warning, the viewfinder on early Is interferes with large CV accessory finders (well certainly the 21mm) so if going down this route look for a later finderless model.

Michael

 

[Dez]

I attempted to contact the vendor with a link to this thread, suggesting he might want to contact the buyer. I got the following not very useful reply.

Hi! I'm not arguing with You, but Russians would never use German Brand name, espetialy after WWII. You are right, Russian copy of Leica is FED (Felix Edmundovich Dzerzinsky)Chif Of (CHK) Cherezvichainaya Kommissiya, after revolution 1917,later KGB or Zorki.

Doesn't look like the vendor will come clean. The lack of articles in the vendor's text tend to suggest that his mother tongue is Russian.

Cheers,
Dez

I have made a serious error here, in that the above conversation with the vendor was placed in the wrong thread. This was about the egregious fake gold Leica II, not this camera, which could fool many an honest ebay vendor.

This vendor purchased the camera in good faith, and paid a significant amount for it, on the basis of its being genuine. He has cancelled the transaction with the ebay buyer, and is to be commended for his honesty.

I have written an apology to this vendor, and resolve never to have two strings open at the same time again!

Dez

 

[L David Tomei]

I think you all should be commended. These Russian fakes are not funny; They were made to cheat people.

 

[funkydog]

I have made a serious error here, in that the above conversation with the vendor was placed in the wrong thread. This was about the egregious fake gold Leica II, not this camera, which could fool many an honest ebay vendor.

This vendor purchased the camera in good faith, and paid a significant amount for it, on the basis of its being genuine. He has cancelled the transaction with the ebay buyer, and is to be commended for his honesty.

I have written an apology to this vendor, and resolve never to have two strings open at the same time again!

Dez

Aren't ya'll glad the lynch mob was late in gettin' together? Or ya'll have wasted a good cross by lightin' it on the wrong front lawn.

 

[jarski]

Word of warning, the viewfinder on early Is interferes with large CV accessory finders (well certainly the 21mm) so if going down this route look for a later finderless model.

Michael

thx. didnt even realize this could be a problem. newer circular and metal CV-finders look better to me than earlier plastic TV-style finders. must include MDa and such models to watch list then too.