flash sync on three-digit Model A

[rodinal]

At an antique shop, I found this three-digit (800 range) Model A Leica. As you can see it has the somewhat rare Elmax lens. Sadly, it has been "upgraded" with flash synchronization, but is a pretty well done modification and I've never seen one like this before (neither another three-digit camera). The good news is that this is possibly one of the oldest "red dot" Leicas.

Do you think this is a factory made modification?
Impact on value?

 

[Erik van Straten]

The synch is certainly no factory made modification. The good news is that a competent repairman, like Ottmar Michaely, can remove it almost without a trace.

Can you show us more pictures of this camera?

The Elmax itself looks clear as a bell, but the camera shows some modifications, such as the release button (should be of the mushroom type), the rewind lever (should be all black) and the rewind knob (should have the same fine knurling as the wind knob).

Great find!

Erik.

 

[rodinal]

Thank you Erik!
I will publish some more pictures soon (now I own this camera)

Cheers,

MP

 

[Luddite Frank]

As long as the price wasn't crazy, I would not let the flash sync and other modernizations stop me from owning this camera...

Very nice find !

 

[Dralowid]

That is a potentially valuable camera, if authenticated.

At these levels, however much one appreciates the thing one starts to think what other interesting gear you could get for the money.

OK, so yours has been modified but which will have a significant impact on price but...
http://www.westlicht-auction.com/index.php?id=62&L=1

 

[Dralowid]

Sorry, see Auction 24, Lot 13. But don't get too excited, the details Eric has pointed out and the sync will have a big impact.

The big money goes to things that are 100% original.

 

[rodinal]

Thank you Erik!
I will publish some more pictures soon (now I own this camera)

Cheers,

MP

After a long time, here are more pictures:

And an eye candy to finish:

Cheers!

MP

 

[Luddite Frank]

Tell me about the UR Leica in the upper-left...

 

[Erik van Straten]

Thank you, Rodinal, for showing us these interesting pictures of a very early Leica. I enjoy them. Good luck with this nice camera!

Apart from the synch a weird thing is the Leica II style rewind knob. Nevertheless, like someone said before, it will be a very nice camera to own.

Erik.

 

[rodinal]

Tell me about the UR Leica in the upper-left...

I'd love to say that this is the missing, never found, third specimen of the Ur Leica, but it's not.

This is a reproduction made by Leitz (in the 60s, I think). It's very well made, but all those were not functional. The film advance knob works, the shutter fires but it has only half of the first (and only) curtain and the lens is just the front element. They are not that expensive until you realize they are little more than a fancy paperweight.

If you look carefully, on the top reads "Nachbildung der Ur-Leica".

A closer picture:

 

[rodinal]

Thank you, Rodinal, for showing us these interesting pictures of a very early Leica. I enjoy them. Good luck with this nice camera!

Apart from the synch a weird thing is the Leica II style rewind knob. Nevertheless, like someone said before, it will be a very nice camera to own.

Erik.

Thank you Erik.
Don't you think there is something odd with the shutter button too?
The few photographs of cameras this age I've seen show either a "mushroom" or a "dimpled" button, but this one is similar to later buttons.

The owner assigns no special value to it and just lent it to me a couple of months ago to test it and play (still have it), so this is hardly a forgery, but has some strange features (aside the flash sync).

Regards.

***EDIT***
I just re read your original comment and you already noted the "wrong" shutter button and other modifications. Thanks again.

 

[Luddite Frank]

That darned flash sync is truly regrettable.

I still wouldn't pass-up this camera though...


Thanks for the back-ground on the UR replica... could these be "completed" and made functional ?

LF