Chance at a IIIc - good price?

[TheHub]

I dropped by a camera shop today and was shown a IIIc that had come in. The shutter seems to fire at all speeds and the rangefinder/viewfinders seemed clear. The problem was that the film advance wasn't working perfectly everytime, it seemed to be slipping. The advance knob turned but if there had been film in it, it wouldn't have moved everytime.

The shop told me if the IIIc was damaged (i.e. if the aforementioned film advance slipping problem is too difficult to fix) they'd sell it for around $225, if it was working smoothly, around $400. The body itself is in pretty good condition, but not perfect (leather missing in some places.) There is no lens included. I didn't get a chance to check the serial #, but I think it was a post-war model.

Is this a good price? In Japan a good condition IIIc goes for $900 or more (I'm not joking here) so I don't know what's a rip-off and what's a fair price for the US market.

Any help and or advice is appreciated
:angel:

 

[FrankS]

Check out the IIIc and Summar in the RFF classifieds! Too late for you I think. This was a great deal, but Joe is right, I am trying to be done.

 

[Rob-F]

They will sell it for $225 if it can't be fixed? I'm not impressed!

In my experience, one can safely assume that any IIIc one buys should go in for a CLA. The price of the CLA should be factored in to the purchase price. The IIIc is a great camera, but it is old. The lubricants were organic, and if it has not been recently overhauled, they will be congealed. And the finder.robably need a good cleaning. I use John Maddox in South Carolina for LTM work.

Actually, it is probably an easy fix, but I wouldn't pay $400 for one that needs work. I have picked up two on eBay for much less than that, and sent them off to John. He's working on one now. John's number in the US is (864) 297-6931, IF you want to ask him how serious this problem is.

 

[colyn]

Not worth it..

A good working IIIc can be had for the price with a lens..

 

[TheHub]

Thanks for the advice. My instincts were telling me that this might be too much money. I'd like to have another look at it, but don't want to be pressured to buy it 🙁

 

[Rob-F]

Oh, John's email is LEICA1925@aol.com

That will be cheaper than a phone call from Japan, I'm sure.

 

[LeicaTom]

Yep! way too high....I just sold a VERY CLEAN 1946 IIIC last week for $225 it was EX++ no bright marks or dents, vulcanite firm and complete and ALL SPEEDS worked
(I sold it in less than 4 hours off another website)

You can find a decent postwar IIIC for under $300 here (without lens) and clean stuff with lenses for about $450
It`s the "wartime" bodies that are starting to climb $600/$750 is the norm for really really clean honest pre 1946 "stepper" rewind bodies

If prices are that CRAZY in Japan I need to start working out some Leica/Canon RF trades
(I`m in the process of doing one now here in the states, while I`m starting to shoot with Canon RF now)

I have this uncanny ability to find Leica equpiment (I DON`T NEED) so I sometimes have trading material

I wonder how Minox B stuff is in Japan? I have a pretty nice collection of that too all mint/boxed stuff

Tom

 

[TheHub]

Again, thanks for the replies. You've saved me a couple hundred bucks. 🙂

I'm actually home in Boston right now, until the end of August. I've heard of M3s selling for $700 and Rolleiflexes for $300 so I'm on the hunt for something to take back with me.