Grandfather's M3 now mine - advice?

[mfogiel]

So,
There are only 2 things you can do:
1 - sell everything, get whatever money you get for it and do whatever you need to do with your life
or
2- send it to one of the reliable repairmen for a CLA (I think the light meter is probably useless, you will need a new one), put some film into it and start taking pictures like someone who is curious of exploring an entirely different world

Yes, this camera equipment are the keys to a door which can open a completely new world of seeing to you, appreciating its beauty and sharpening up your sensibility as a human being

It will be like knowing a new language, or like travelling to China 1000 years before anybody else from outside

Read this:

http://theonlinephotographer.typepad.com/the_online_photographer/2009/05/a-leica-year.html

 

[Oscar Levant]

The way he's selling it is extremely foolish, and he's almost certain to get a very low price or no sale.

And if he does sell it, he's setting himself up for a return or a dispute.

After this whole thread, he ignores all advice, so at the rate he's going, the romanticists may have their wish and the junk will be buried with Gramps.

For the eBay-challenged, here's where you can watch the train wreck:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Leica-M3-Rangefinder-Camera-four-lenses-2-light-meters_W0QQitemZ230358186070

It's bizarre to me how people become attached to their equipment, with vows of "taking to the grave", never selling, etc.

Others just don't get it and keep insisting he keep the equipment, fix it, and use it. This is a forum of emotionally attached aficionados. Is it so hard to conceptualize that other people just don't share your enthusiasm for obsolete Leica gear, and just want to sell it? You act like he's selling a child. To most people, the stuff is just junk, not a fetish object like to you.

 

[Rick Waldroup]

When I die, I don't want a damn thing buried with me. Cameras are just tools to be used, not objects of adoration. Besides, I have gone through so many different types of cameras over the years, I would not know where to start. I can just see me telling my kids, "Hey, when the old man kicks the bucket, make sure you drop that Ricoh GRD in the coffin, will ya?"

 

[FPjohn]

I once purchased a IIIb kit in distressed condition and sent the body to DAG for a CLA. I definitely paid more than the going rate. However, the IIIB is my second most used camera and my most elegant one. So, I consider the money well spent.

It was made during the "phony war" and its owner was a gentleman who survived the camps.

yours
FPJ

 

[venchka]

A bit of clarification if I may...

My grandkids are pretty sharp. Maybe they will appreciate my stuff. Maybe one or more of them will actually want to use my stuff. At the very least, someone will display Grandpa's Antiques.

On the other hand, if they are clueless about the gear, and sell it to fund their other habits, I would hope that they avoid ebay. Otherwise, just toss the stuff in the hole after me.

That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

Wayne

 

[venchka]

OK, I visited the ebay listing.

"What a Maroon!"

 

[kully]

For me it is odd that you titled this thread "Grandfather's M3 now mine - advice?"

Someone new to Leicas would call them it a "Leica" rather than refer to them by model number.

If you can spare the time to research model numbers, match caps to lenses and arrange the items for your photos, I would spend a little more time and run some film through the cameras and describe the condition of the shutter curtains and VF/RF.

I hope I'm not being impertinent, it's not my intention. Most people are jaded by the thousands of "this was my grandads, but I know nothing" listings on the internet, but they nearly always take the effort to research how much they will get...

As has been mentioned before, $1000 perhaps for this stuff, although I wouldn't buy it - there's probably at least the same amount of money required to get it working properly.

 

[Al Kaplan]

I've already had "The Discussion" with my son about disposing of my stuff (or keeping it) and how to determine current values. He knows that hoods can be worth more than the lenses, Leitz booklets have value.

Over the years I've traded photography for paintings and drawings with artists nobody at the time had ever heard of. My son knows which ones have sentimental value for me, and maybe for him as well, but otherwise could go to Good Will. He also knows which ones should go to Christies and could finance my grandaughter's college tuition all the way through med or law school.

My most recent wife is an antique dealer and I've seen a lot of Rollies, Leicas, Hassselblads, etc. sold by the children as "Grandpa's old film cameras" for next to nothing. Some of those boxes of old cameras looked like they were hardly used, but the kids didn't have a clue as to what they were selling or what it might be worth.

 

[josh b]

I have to say the passion exhibited here certainly indicates that photography is an art form🙂 Not that it should make any difference but I am in my mid thirties, married and have a small fry. Wife and I both work, enjoy the small town we live in outside of the ATL and take things a day at a time.

Damn,I hope my grand kids think more of me.

I was chatting with my wife about this thread last night and we both felt that we would feel more loved and respected by our hopeful eventual grandchildren not by the possessions of ours that they kept but by the positive influences and life lessons that they remembered and learned from.

Before you're cold on the floor, your most favorite and precious stuff will be on eBay or at the pawn shop for pennies on the dollar.

Sucks that you can't take it with you eh? Ooh - I've got an idea. You could employ a whole bunch of slaves and build a big pile of tons of rock with a little bitty room underneath it. Then at least you get to keep your stuff with you for maybe a thousand years or so until the British dig it up and stick it in a museum🙂

C'mon - isn't this one of the reasons you are drawn to photography? To preserve a moment in time, to share a perspective, to capture human emotion in a medium that might have an impact for generations?

My grandfather was a practical person and a business man. He wasn't wasteful and certainly wouldn't want me to hang on to his Leica if I wasn't going to use it.

Too late, It's already on there. US only, USD 2,500 BIN/make offer. Thats gonna buy a nice mediocre compact for sure, dude!

Seems a bit odd, putting it up for grabs and then asking us if we are willing to pay more than the price he put on it, eh?

At least he's selling as a set, so someone that can appreciate this gear will have the chance to acquire an authentic historical set.

I'm with Wayne, my gear goes into the casket with me if there are no offspring available that I trust with it.

I'm right here - no need to refer to me in the 3rd person🙂 Yes - it is currently on ebay. I've already ran it through once and received a couple offers in the 600 to 1000 dollar range. I've used ebay for over 10 years and bought and sold lots of items with overall good luck. I understand there are ebay haters out there just like there are Starbucks and Apple and Walmart haters.

I did NOT offer it for sale in this thread and am certainly not trying to hide anything - gosh, I see now how rumors get started!

The way he's selling it is extremely foolish, and he's almost certain to get a very low price or no sale.

And if he does sell it, he's setting himself up for a return or a dispute.

After this whole thread, he ignores all advice, so at the rate he's going, the romanticists may have their wish and the junk will be buried with Gramps.

For the eBay-challenged, here's where you can watch the train wreck:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Leica-M3-Rangefinder-Camera-four-lenses-2-light-meters_W0QQitemZ230358186070

It's bizarre to me how people become attached to their equipment, with vows of "taking to the grave", never selling, etc.

Others just don't get it and keep insisting he keep the equipment, fix it, and use it. This is a forum of emotionally attached aficionados. Is it so hard to conceptualize that other people just don't share your enthusiasm for obsolete Leica gear, and just want to sell it? You act like he's selling a child. To most people, the stuff is just junk, not a fetish object like to you.

Hey Oscar - I'm right here - looking for input from the enthusiast for how best to present this item. I can modify or pull the ebay ad at any time...

OK, I visited the ebay listing.

"What a Maroon!"

Maroon? as in a dark brownish red or to to put ashore and abandon on a desolate island or coast by way of punishment or the like, as was done by buccaneers?

For me it is odd that you titled this thread "Grandfather's M3 now mine - advice?"

Someone new to Leicas would call them it a "Leica" rather than refer to them by model number.

If you can spare the time to research model numbers, match caps to lenses and arrange the items for your photos, I would spend a little more time and run some film through the cameras and describe the condition of the shutter curtains and VF/RF.

I hope I'm not being impertinent, it's not my intention. Most people are jaded by the thousands of "this was my grandads, but I know nothing" listings on the internet, but they nearly always take the effort to research how much they will get...

As has been mentioned before, $1000 perhaps for this stuff, although I wouldn't buy it - there's probably at least the same amount of money required to get it working properly.

One of my hobbies is cars - especially bavarian sports cars and so the choice of going with just the model number was probably driven by the BMW with the same designation. Sorry - I am sure that is sacrilege to bring up as the Leica was certainly the first to use that name🙂 Thanks for the advice.

 

[rover]

Well said Josh.

Listen guys, as Josh says you got some passion which is great, but his passion is not the same or for the same things as yours/ours. There is nothing wrong with that. Sounds like he has his head screwed on pretty well even if you think he should keep the kit.

That said please be respectful and courteous in your discussion, no need to pass judgement, since your judgement is just an opinion and as wrong as everyone elses here, including Josh's.

 

[Oscar Levant]

You were told clearly how to sell the stuff.

1) Each item separate, even the hoods and caps. Take clear photos of each and describe the flaws to the best of your ability. If a lens is fogged, say so. If you're not sure all functions of the camera work, say so. Don't get into a dispute with the buyer after the sale.

2) Start the auctions at one dollar. Reserves, "best offers", high starting prices, all are proven to produce LOWER prices than if you start them at a dollar and let the market price get reached. Getting newbies and people who don't understand eBay into bidding wars and having them trying to "stay on top" works to your benefit.

3) Don't wimp out if the price seems low towards the end of the auction. Most big bids come in during the last ten seconds. Something sitting at $100 will suddenly jump to $500 when the experienced buyers jump in to snipe. You can see the number of "watchers" to gauge how popular the auction is.

4) When you list the camera or lens, sell the manual in another auction. Make sure you mention you are selling the manuals, lenses and other items in every auction so buyers look at your other listings.

5) If you sell something over $250, make sure you ship with SIGNATURE CONFIRMATION to the CONFIRMED ADDRESS ONLY.

 

[johannielscom]

I'm perfectly aware you are right here Josh, but from the looks of it the thread you started will be here a lot longer than you. Too bad.

I suppose you are able to swallow your grandkids selling off your sportscars without ever driving them since they own a Daihatsu already.

The love of German craftmanship obviously runs in your family, I'm pretty sure you would warm up to the set on sale if you would clean it up a little and run a roll of film through to assess its current condition.

I'm not judging here, just puzzled. Anyway, good luck on the sale.

 

[chikarin]

looking at his ebay feedback i would say he knows how to sell on ebay...

 

[Oscar Levant]

PS: Having said that, the condition of your stuff is only about 4-5 on a scale of one to ten.

I think you'll end up with around $1000 for it all, give or take a couple of hundred. You'd never recoup your money if you had the camera or lenses professionally cleaned or repaired.

 

[Oscar Levant]

He may know how to sell things within his niche, but cameras and lenses require other techniques sometimes.

looking at his ebay feedback i would say he knows how to sell on ebay...

 

[ferider]

Hi Josh,

this is my guess what you can expect if you sell the items individually, assuming each is clean and working:

Leica M3 camera: US 500-700
Leica Hektor f=13.5cm 1:4.5: US 100-150
Leica Elmar f=9cm 1:4: US 100-150
Leica Summicron f=5cm 1:2: US 300
Leica Summaron f=3.5cm 1:3.5 lense: US 200-250
Leica Meter: US 50
Weston Master II Universal Exposure Meter: US 50?

Then per hood around US 50, if not out of shape, and maybe US 20 per cap if sold indivually.

You will likely get less for the kit since it's hard to assess how clean the items are.

Like Oscar said, better to put them up individually at NR, with 1$ starting price, ending on a Sun morning in the US.
I would add the manuals to the items, might push their price up.

And, BTW, very likely that some of your buyers will be RFF members, who will take their cameras to their grave 🙂

Cheers,

Roland.

 

[chris00nj]

The way he's selling it is extremely foolish, and he's almost certain to get a very low price or no sale.

And if he does sell it, he's setting himself up for a return or a dispute.

After this whole thread, he ignores all advice, so at the rate he's going, the romanticists may have their wish and the junk will be buried with Gramps.

For the eBay-challenged, here's where you can watch the train wreck:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Leica-M3-Rangefinder-Camera-four-lenses-2-light-meters_W0QQitemZ230358186070

Well I had wasted 20 minutes telling him exactly how he should inspect and why it was important to add some addition descriptions to the equipment listing. He didn't even mention the lens hoods in the ad.

He's dillusional if he thinks someone will pay $2500 for that set. Even if it was properly inspected, described, and in reasonable working condition, I can only see this set getting $1500 at most.

With the way he's described it (or not described it), I think he would be hard pressed to get $1000.

 

[Oscar Levant]

$500-$700 for the camera is very optimistic. Prices are way down, even for mint stuff.

$50 for the Leica meter?? I don't think he'll even get a bid for $10

 

[venchka]

Josh,

In the absence of precise descriptions, you should list this sale "As is. No Returns." Otherwise, you may be in for a lot of grief.

Donating to a worthy school with a real film program and taking a tax deduction may be the most profitable way to go.

Good luck.

 

[squirrel$$$bandit]

Damn,I hope my grand kids think more of me.

What an insulting, asinine thing to say. This guy wants information on his grandfather's camera gear, and you're telling him he didn't love the old man enough? What kind of crap is that?

When somebody is dead, their descendents are not required to be interested in the same things they were. You owe this guy an apology.

If it were my stuff, and i didn't want it, I'd list it all in one big lot and start the bidding at a buck with no reserve, and let the chips fall where they may. $2500 has no chance of happening, I don't think. Good luck to the OP, and I'm sorry you lost your grandfather.