Good problem/mystery to have?!

[Sparxter]

I just bought a really old camera case from a guy that was just looking to get rid of it. In it was a really used old leica, the vulcanite was missing on most of the camera and was very brittle on the rest. It has a 5cm f2 lens and I was really excited to use it as a user.

I was pretty excited to use this camera and see what the lens is capable of, so I cleaned it up a bit unstuck the aperature ring, and loaded in an old roll of film and started playing without a light meter and hardly a clue as this is the first rangefinder to shoot with.

So here's my problem. I love old cameras and history. I have a shelf ranging from Kodak 110 to this circa 1942 leica. Must are worth almost nothing but... Here is my problem, it looks like this leica is a luftwaffen. Also in the old camera suitcase, there are two stereo kodaks about the same vintage. On the front of the leica and one of the kodaks is a plastic label maker label that says DAY-25. I'm trying to figure this out. I bought the suitcase some months ago and haven't gotten around to playing with these until just now and can't remember the guys name I bought it from. So I can't quiz him about his grandfather.

I've been doing a little digging and I know that the allies used stereo cams for recon, and two of them in the same box with the mysterious day-25 leads me to believe they may have been used for that purpose.

If anyone knows anything about wwII Kodak stereo recon cameras, and or can look up the serial on the sumitar 5cm f2 lens that would help me greatly to decider my mystery. The day 25 label on these cameras is killing me. I really need to get back to work and stop scouring the Internet for clues.

The lens is not engraved with the luftwaffen, but the serial no is: 585798

Thanks for help with this mystery. This day 25 thing is killing me. I'm imagining this guy doing recon with these cameras in the war then coming home and using them to take vacation photos with them. There are some stereo slides of Alaska vacation and regular classic boat photos taken with his family in 1969.

For all I know this guy could have done the recon that thwarted the v1 and v2 programs. In which case I really should not use this camera anymore.

 

[Dralowid]

That number relates to a lens made in 1942.

 

[FrankS]

Day 25 could mean ASA 25, daylight balanced colour (slide) film.

Of course we need pictures of the leica military camera, which turn out to be Russian fakes in the vast majority of cases. Don't get your hopes up too high.

 

[Sparxter]

L post a couple of pics when I get a chance. Any way to tell if the lens was shipped to the luftwaffen by the serial.

 

[Sparxter]

 

[tjh]

Can't see the pictures .. they come up as a question mark.

 

[johannielscom]

Use the 'Go Advanced' button underneath the message box. Choose the paperclip and stick the pictures to the message like that.

Luftwaffen camera's should be greyish green. Not brass, or it's a Russian fake...

Fingers crossed!😀

 

[pdexposures]

Can't see the pictures .. they come up as a question mark.

I hit "reply quote" and it briefly showed the code you used to post the images before it got sucked into the ether. It seems you used HTML coding to post the images and not BB coding.

 

[Pablito]

Day 25 could mean ASA 25, daylight balanced colour (slide) film.

That is what it means, probably Kodachrome.

 

[pdexposures]

That is what it means, probably Kodachrome.

While I know you're right, it's disappointing and I can understand the OP hoping for a much cooler story involving romance, a war, and the 25th day of combat. 😀

 

[rfaspen]

I'm very curious to see photos of the Leica camera and lens. I have a couple Kodak Stereo's of my own. Actually they're really good at what they do. They were produced for a while and may or may not be contemporary with the Leica. I still use mine.

Day 25 means the camera was loaded with ASA 25 Daylight film. Nothing so exciting as you were imagining. Now, if you have a true German military Leica, that could be exciting.

 

[rfaspen]

pdxexposure, yeah, I was wondering if we should have left that alone. Old Kodachrome is nowhere near as exciting as what the OP was building in their imagination. War, romance, danger, behind the enemy lines with Kodak stereo cameras... I'd see that movie!

 

[Sparxter]

😕No doubt you guys ruined it for me. Now all I have is a cool old camera that I can't use and I was really hoping the stereo cams meant that he took the pics that saved the war. Oh well I should just be content that I have one of the most collectible cameras even in its sad condition. Well just see after I get this roll developed.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/47jqsiov73o2v97/Photo Jun 23, 9 28 20 AM.jpg

 

[FrankS]

I do believe that that may be a real Leica! Not what I expected. You may be lucky after all. How about a pic of the front?

 

[Sparxter]

Here's a few more for ya.

Now that we have cleared that up. There still is a story behind this old camera case full of gear. There are two leica tin film canisters that don't feel empty. I was going to open them and look but thought better of it and will do it in the dark and feel if the emulsion side is still there or has been processed.

Then there is the curiosity of the two Kodak stereos. Who has two stereo cameras and one Leica in the forties and or fifties. I have more research to do on my mystery.


https://www.dropbox.com/s/8fxrv7ryg5egsm4/Photo Jun 23, 6 59 41 AM.jpg

https://www.dropbox.com/s/yemg431xgroboiy/Photo Jun 23, 7 59 39 PM.jpg

https://www.dropbox.com/s/tl0uwjxp1nmzv7e/Photo Jun 23, 9 28 46 AM.jpg
https://www.dropbox.com/s/acbtch9s66zf9zb/Photo Jun 23, 9 27 03 AM.jpg

 

[Pablito]

I am by no means a Leica expert, but I have seen a lot of photos of Luftwaffen fakes and none of the photos looked like this camera...

 

[Sparxter]

Thanks frank. I had no doubt. I know quite bit about cameras and old stuff. I have watched way too much antique roadshow and heterosexual male version. Pawn stars.

Have you guys seen the one for sale on eBay for 4779 or something like that. The font on the luftwaffen engraving is way off.

So here is my question. I think the case/collection as a hole would be worth quite a bit more if I could find out the story behind it. Does anyone out there think there is any remote chance this guy could have done some recon with this gear? Or do you think it was simply a war spoil and the guy kind of just got into stereo stuff.

Leica Tom where are you?
I need your expertise.

 

[Vics]

Isn't that lens collapsible? Did you try un-collapsing it? Is it a Summitar?

 

[Sparxter]

I have no doubt that this is an original luftwaffen the font on the engraving matches the others that are going for 15000. The frozen aperature ring and pitting on the top plate not to mention that the old case was musty as can be I don't think this thing has seen the light of day since the eighties. Plus I wont even mention what I paid for it because you really don't want to know.

This thing has been in hibernation for a loooooong time.

 

[Sparxter]

It is a summitar. F2. It does go in and out but sticks a some and the chrome has warn off in a spot due to the friction. The lens doesn't have the luftwaffen engraving like some do. So not sure if its original to the camera.