tennis-joe
Well-known
There was an auction from a site called justkidsnostalgia
for many wonderful Leicas, copies, lens, etc, maybe 400 items and it was a feeding frenzy. Prices were very high and I wonder if the items were as good as mentioned. Beautiful items, all gone it seems. 3:30 PM Standard time April 2
Luddite Frank
Well-known
Looked like a lot of goodies there...
I was watching about 1 dozen items from that auction, but they quickly went beyond my limits...
Wouldn't have minded grabbing one of the Thambar lenses...
Luddite Frank
I was watching about 1 dozen items from that auction, but they quickly went beyond my limits...
Wouldn't have minded grabbing one of the Thambar lenses...
Luddite Frank
LeicaTom
Watch that step!
The DOUBLE asterisk US Army Leica IIIC K was ULTRA RARE and also a Jim Lager book camera - I could`nt hang with the bidding - it sold for nearly $3k
Also there was a very rare Leica 250 Reporter to IIIFBD conversion (maybe the only one in the world?) a real deal for the collector at $6,100
A seemly complete 1929 Rim Set Compur Leica that sold for $2,500
A decent original Luftwaffen IIIC in chrome sold for like $1,400 (very good deal for someone into the German military equipment)
and the VERY RARE Taylor & Hobson *prototype lens* Summarit that nobody but I and a German collector/dealer were after, (sold for ONLY $255!) I was outbid at the last minute
*kicking myself - this lens was rarer than any other version of the Summarit*
Two 1945/46 Stepped rewinds sold to the same bidder (from Poland) how much $$$ does anyone want to bet that BOTH cameras come back to the US market as FAKE IIIC K`s or Luftwaffen cameras in less than 6 months! (sad)
*and funny enough the RARER camera sold for less than the less valuable one*
The cheaper camera was a VERY RARE double delivery 1945-46 "Half Race" Leica IIIC
Ok that`s enough from me today........
Tom
Also there was a very rare Leica 250 Reporter to IIIFBD conversion (maybe the only one in the world?) a real deal for the collector at $6,100
A seemly complete 1929 Rim Set Compur Leica that sold for $2,500
A decent original Luftwaffen IIIC in chrome sold for like $1,400 (very good deal for someone into the German military equipment)
and the VERY RARE Taylor & Hobson *prototype lens* Summarit that nobody but I and a German collector/dealer were after, (sold for ONLY $255!) I was outbid at the last minute
*kicking myself - this lens was rarer than any other version of the Summarit*
Two 1945/46 Stepped rewinds sold to the same bidder (from Poland) how much $$$ does anyone want to bet that BOTH cameras come back to the US market as FAKE IIIC K`s or Luftwaffen cameras in less than 6 months! (sad)
*and funny enough the RARER camera sold for less than the less valuable one*
The cheaper camera was a VERY RARE double delivery 1945-46 "Half Race" Leica IIIC
Ok that`s enough from me today........
Tom
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murrayb53
Established
Geez, Tom. I thought you would have jumped on that IIIcK*. It went for less than I thought it would.
I bid on the Rolleicord and won it. No big deal. What I really wanted and was not offered for auction was an original Gray IIIc Gray Lenscap for the 50mm Summitar and Gray ER Case.
From what I've read, both are harder to come by than the IIIcK.
OH well...........
Steve
I bid on the Rolleicord and won it. No big deal. What I really wanted and was not offered for auction was an original Gray IIIc Gray Lenscap for the 50mm Summitar and Gray ER Case.
From what I've read, both are harder to come by than the IIIcK.
OH well...........
Steve
dlove5
Established
I bid and won the near focusing device for the IIIg (ADVOO). Can't really justify it other than I've wanted to play around with one, even though it probably won't get much use. I have enough other easier to use gear for macro and/or close focus work. And it was one of the few items I wanted where I was ok with the price.
LeicaTom
Watch that step!
Well sadly, I didn`t have like $3k to throw at that one....(I baled out at $900)
It is maybe the RAREST version of all the IIICK`s though not the most expensive (the W.H. and Luftwaffen) one`s bring all the $$$$ the double asterisk camera is one of only TWO in the world that were even made in 1945 (and shipped to US Forces) Jim Lager photographed this very same camera like 25 years ago when it was in the original collection and it has been featured in one of Jim`s books
Their were also single asterisk IIICK cameras also shipped to US Forces in 1945 as well, the last sold at auction for $2,100 (which I didn`t think this camera would honestly do over $2,500)
Civilian IIICK`s and US Army ones are still in the $2,000 to $2,500 range and that`s for near mint examples - stores offer them for $3,000+ and you see after 2 or 3 years the SAME cameras are still for sale, I keep records of all the numbers
The grey cap for the Summitar is pretty uncommon (I`ve seen like 5 or 6 of them in the past 10 years and they sell for like $100/$200)
I think it was used mainly for the German Army/Airforce cameras and not for the majority of the grey paint cameras, most early "wartime" lenses had the the black bakeilite cap *1939/40/41* and after 1942 the chrome ones, (these were the just of the lenses that went on the grey paint IIIC`s and IIICK`s)
Lens caps went back to black bakeilite caps in late 1945 early 1946
The Grey ER case is pretty rare, and runs about $300 if one should turn up, the "wartime" Black case is also as rare, I bought a near mint one like a year ago for $75
I`m still looking for a IIICK to IIIFBD conversion myself in grey paint as a "user" if one comes my way that`s fine, if not I still have my non-stamp IIICK I shoot with all the time as well
I really would have liked to have that rare 1949 Taylor & Hobson (prototype) Summarit, it will more than likely now go to Germany (sold for $255) it will be placed on the German market for like $1,200 or maybe even more?
What those crazy collectors pay in Europe for things astounds me sometimes.....sometimes three times the normal US market price, I`m glad som many GI`s brought Leica`s back home after WW2
Tom
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Tom,
why don't you go thru the more interesting auction pieces, explaining what was interesting.
stuff like "double delivery" and "half race" won't mean much to a lot of readers, unless you explain what they are.
Stephen
why don't you go thru the more interesting auction pieces, explaining what was interesting.
stuff like "double delivery" and "half race" won't mean much to a lot of readers, unless you explain what they are.
Stephen
LeicaTom
Watch that step!
Hmmm well Stephen I can only give input on the equipment that I really KNOW about and what I thought was personally interesting there were (3) US Army Leica`s in that auction (not a very common factor in itself)
I`m always happy to explain more about things I know about and one day all of this will be sitting in a book form
*with the planned Leica IIIC book*For everyone who doesn`t know the *asterisk added at the end of a Leica serial number represents a camera or a lens that was manufactured/reproduced and or shipped out with a number that had already been used, for example the IIICK camera in question had been originaly shipped during WW2 to a German civilian facility, the camera was either lost or destroyed then was reissued again and then finally after the war when the US Army took over the plant in 1945, the serial numbers lot was reused/reissued and the camera became a double asterisk ** camera
This was often the case with lenses that were destoryed or damaged beyond repair then that were reissued to the original owner/shippment etc. - many of these have a single asterisk added after the serial number
Asterisk cameras and lenses are just another small addition to what some people enjoy to collect, some people look for them, others could care less, it`s all it a persons personal taste
The term "Half Race" has been explained here at RFF in quite a few threads now, most fans of the Leica IIIC already do know what one is........but for all who didn`t see it the first time here`s the Half Race thread again one more time
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=47102&highlight=Half+Race
Really was a interesting small auction, there`s been much bigger one`s recently with even better cameras and lenses but this one was a good one to show what direction some of the camera equipment is currently doing pricewise - prices are stable, good clean equipment is still reasonable and the rare stuff is also at a low budget at present, back in the crazy 90`s 250 Reporter`s were going for $8,000+
I think the trend for most clean vintage Leitz equipment is looking nice at the moment, it`s a buyers market now and only the really unique and rare items are bringing top $$$$`s
Tom
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Mr_Flibble
In Tabulas Argenteas Refero
I was bidding on two not-so-special bodies , but got outbid over the weekend. Which turned out to be a good thing.... I'm in the process of adding a war-time M1 Carbine to my firearm permit now.
ray*j*gun
Veteran
That auction made me feel good about what I own now but has shades of what happened to the "classic car" market 5 years ago. Shoot a classic car used to be like an old Auburn not a 70'ish Mopar...
Ray
Ray
fbf
Well-known
I learned so much from this post...first time i felt good about having evil bay along.
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Matthew Allen
Well-known
Interesting stuff Tom. Does the * and ** business mean that without original documentation it's impossible to put a precise year to a camera since you can't know when the serial number was reissued?
Matthew
Matthew
LeicaTom
Watch that step!
Well, the * asterisk deal does open some can of worms with the cameras, as with these strange group of the chrome Leica IIICK`s there were like 15 or 20 cameras or so that were reissued numbers in 1945 and the ONLY WAY to even know about them is to have access to the original Leitz shipment records (I received help from Jim Lager on these cameras)
I have seen other types of Leica * asterisk cameras with completely new top plates (late 1950`s Leica logos) instead of the original style top etc. so a camera could be a 1930`s number with a 1950`s top plate
I know they started this practice as early as 1932 and it went on into the M series Leica`s, but I`m not sure if the company still marks their replacement cameras like this anymore?
Tom
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Luddite Frank
Well-known
make that " 70'ish Mopar CLONE" !!!!
(Don't get me started !!! ):bang:
I fully blame things like the Barrett-Jackson auctions on Speeed Vision for feeding the nuttiness in the old car hobby...
Even though "nobody wants them anymore", I still can't touch a brass car...
I wish I had been interested in LTM back when "nobody wanted them anymore"... AND there were still local camera shops...
LF
LeicaTom
Watch that step!
The market was very strong for clean/mint LTM equipment since the mid 1980`s and the 90`s showed some peak sales to private collections
(I sold a Mint Minus 1960 Chrome Leica IIIG with matching 50mm f2.8 Elmar and a Leicavit in the original ER/Leicavit case for nearly $5,000 back in 1992)
I think the 1960`s and 70`s were the good ole days, but even back then Compur Leica`s and IIICK`s were bringing $200 to $500
The "odd ball" Leica`s ALWAYS have brought good money, many ex GI`s told me about how much power a Luftwaffen or German Army camera had in the black market, supply was almost never going to keep up with the demand - as they used to say "Luger`s & Leica`s" were the two most desired souvenirs of the postwar GI returning home
Tom
(I sold a Mint Minus 1960 Chrome Leica IIIG with matching 50mm f2.8 Elmar and a Leicavit in the original ER/Leicavit case for nearly $5,000 back in 1992)
I think the 1960`s and 70`s were the good ole days, but even back then Compur Leica`s and IIICK`s were bringing $200 to $500
The "odd ball" Leica`s ALWAYS have brought good money, many ex GI`s told me about how much power a Luftwaffen or German Army camera had in the black market, supply was almost never going to keep up with the demand - as they used to say "Luger`s & Leica`s" were the two most desired souvenirs of the postwar GI returning home
Tom
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It surprised me the Luftwaffen sold for only $1700
Stephen
Stephen
ray*j*gun
Veteran
make that " 70'ish Mopar CLONE" !!!!
(Don't get me started !!! ):bang:
I fully blame things like the Barrett-Jackson auctions on Speeed Vision for feeding the nuttiness in the old car hobby...
Even though "nobody wants them anymore", I still can't touch a brass car...
I wish I had been interested in LTM back when "nobody wanted them anymore"... AND there were still local camera shops...
LF
I realy hate BJ's auction. When I got out of the Marine Corps in 1975, I wanted an Austin Healy 3000 (BJ8) and got one for a song, a 1967 like new. BJ sold a trailer queen 1956 on the show for $60,000. Jeez I won't be able to relive that dream!!
Ray
LeicaTom
Watch that step!
WOW! a 1967 AH 3000....now that`s the Healey of all Healey`s!!!!!!
I sadly passed up a 1953 AH 100S with all rare parts intact, running but a bad transmission for $500 in 1980 (it turned out to be one of the FIRST AH`s to be imported to the USA)
I`ve always regretted that deal, I was young and not thinking about it, plus my parents didn`t go for the idea either, I was only 16 at the time
(the car now in basketcase form is like $25,000+)
Tom