How Not to Store a Leica

[chris00nj]

When an 'bay bid of the following items yields less than $1200 for the lot, then you know it must be in rough shape:

M3
35/2 Summicron
90/2 Summicron
28/2.8 Canon
21/.4 Super Angulon


They look like they were buried in the back yard for 20 years. Of course, if it was kept with care, it could have sold for $3K.

 

[Keith]

Wow ... that's taking the "don't baby your Leica just treat it like a normal camera" theory to the extreme! Sort of makes you wonder just how it all finished up looking like that?

 

[Erik L]

its not a pretty kit but its better than a gold plated monstrosity.

i feel bad about what i paid now. 😱

 

[LeicaTom]

Maybe they were hiding it from the KGB??????😱

I knew a German man who buried a LEICA I in his backyard for like 2 years to hide it from the advancing US Army in 1945 ~ he did bury it well, so there was`nt any real damage, hahahaa!!!!!! it was part of his Camera Store/Leica collection back in the 1990`s LOL!!!!!! 😀.....a real conversation piece 🙂

Tom

PS: Ohhh I`ve seen some SAD 🙁 cameras here in Florida too....this weather is`nt so good for cameras stored in their original cases 😛 mold, mildew and fungus abound!

 

[Keith]

Interesting to read the questons and answers for this auction ... boy there's some hopeful opportunists out there! The seller was very patient with them I thought and answered all the questions fairly.

It's very annoying when you list something as an auction and get all these ridiculous lowball buy it now offers ... the temptation to tell them to p!ss off is overpowering! 😛

 

[Pickett Wilson]

This was a serious (and expensive) kit when bought new. Surely it got that way after the original owners death, probably ending up in an attic or garage for many years, because whoever bought this equipment likely understood what he had and valued it. Kinda sad. Bet it has some stories to tell.

 

[Tom A]

One of the worst cases of "mis storing" was a kit that I saw her in Vancouver about 10 years ago.
Two M3's. 21f3.4, 28 first generation, 35f2.0 version 1, Zunow 50f1.1 and one of the early 90f2.s in chrome. It had been left by the owner in his "hide away" in Belize. All the lenses had severe fungus, in some instances completely opaqued out (the Zunow). The curtains on M3's were green with mold and disintegrating. The finders had severe mold and fungi growing in them. I handled them gingerly (and wished for surgical gloves) and informed the owner "It is a totally destroyed kit" - He was a bit upset, but he managed to find someone who gave him $1000 for it all. I did not want it - and my instinct was right. The new owner spent about $3000 restoring the bodies (virtually replacing the complete chassi) and the 21/3.4 and the 35f2. Both the Zunow and the 90f2.0 were beyond salvage and the 28 flared at the mere thought of a lightsource.
The owner had bought the kit new in the mid to late 50's and shuttled between Belize and Canada. He left the kit down south as he was switching to 120 - and the Rolleiflex F in the case (with the 75f3.5 Planar no less) was rusted solid and had a small bug living in the mirror housing!

 

[Frank Petronio]

The buyer overpaid.... I would love to hear the story though

 

[chris00nj]

Interesting to read the questons and answers for this auction ... boy there's some hopeful opportunists out there! The seller was very patient with them I thought and answered all the questions fairly.

It's very annoying when you list something as an auction and get all these ridiculous lowball buy it now offers ... the temptation to tell them to p!ss off is overpowering! 😛

Anyone who is the least bit familiar with eBay should know that there is serious bidding in the last hour of an item. Anyone smart should also notice the amount of people watching the item, even if there is only a couple bids.

I think once in a while people do say okay and end the auction. I've seen bids I'm watching end early and I assume that's the reason.

 

[chris00nj]

One of the worst cases of "mis storing" was a kit that I saw her in Vancouver about 10 years ago.
Two M3's. 21f3.4, 28 first generation, 35f2.0 version 1, Zunow 50f1.1 and one of the early 90f2.s in chrome. It had been left by the owner in his "hide away" in Belize. All the lenses had severe fungus, in some instances completely opaqued out (the Zunow). The curtains on M3's were green with mold and disintegrating. The finders had severe mold and fungi growing in them. I handled them gingerly (and wished for surgical gloves) and informed the owner "It is a totally destroyed kit" - He was a bit upset, but he managed to find someone who gave him $1000 for it all. I did not want it - and my instinct was right. The new owner spent about $3000 restoring the bodies (virtually replacing the complete chassi) and the 21/3.4 and the 35f2. Both the Zunow and the 90f2.0 were beyond salvage and the 28 flared at the mere thought of a lightsource.
The owner had bought the kit new in the mid to late 50's and shuttled between Belize and Canada. He left the kit down south as he was switching to 120 - and the Rolleiflex F in the case (with the 75f3.5 Planar no less) was rusted solid and had a small bug living in the mirror housing!

Wow. That was some nice gear that got ruined. That ebay bid was a real crap shoot on whether they will get their money's worth. One guy from HK guessed very well where the bidding would end.

 

[ZeissFan]

Unfortunately, when the "Leica" name enters the picture, people's ability to think rationally goes flying out the window.

Interesting camera + lenses and probably will require an additional investment of money to get everything into working order.

 

[Ken Ford]

Looking at the seller's responses, I think he knew exactly what real condition this gear was in. No way would I have bid - I strongly suspect it was a rip-off attempt.

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

Some people would call it "character". 🙂

Let's say a CLA for each item, would cost another $600 to $1000 total, you'd still have paid less than usual. Smart move.

It's also one of those that camera repair people would go gaga for.

 

[chris00nj]

Some people would call it "character". 🙂

Let's say a CLA for each item, would cost another $600 to $1000 total, you'd still have paid less than usual. Smart move.

It's also one of those that camera repair people would go gaga for.

If someone has experience taking apart and cleaning lenses, they may have a nice business opportunity, provided there isn't fungus or other major problems.

I'll keep this thread bookmarked as we may see these up for auction in a couple months

Leica M3 - 844785?
21/4 Angulon 1604378
35/2 Summicron - 18x3xx2 1853752?
90/2 Summicron - xxx0798

 

[JohnL]

Looks to me as if the body (at least) may have been under muddy water at some point. I hope not.

 

[drewbarb]

Maybe they were hiding it from the KGB??????😱

I knew a German man who buried a LEICA I in his backyard for like 2 years to hide it from the advancing US Army in 1945 ~ he did bury it well, so there was`nt any real damage, hahahaa!!!!!! it was part of his Camera Store/Leica collection back in the 1990`s LOL!!!!!! 😀.....a real conversation piece 🙂

Tom

PS: Ohhh I`ve seen some SAD 🙁 cameras here in Florida too....this weather is`nt so good for cameras stored in their original cases 😛 mold, mildew and fungus abound!

Interesting tidbit, Tom. I doubt it's news to many here, but of course HCB buried his Leica to hide it from the Nazis when he was taken as a POW. Three years later, after he escaped, he returned to the spot in France where he'd buried it, dug it up, and kept shooting with it. Still, I can't recommend the idea...

 

[Newjerseyjohn]

i dig the body, wouldn't mind shooting something like that if it functioned correctly.

 

[Doug]

Ugly stuff... But one can get lucky on occasion. I bid and "won" a very dirty lens on eBay after examining the photos carefully, trying to see "beyond" the dirt. No obvious scratches or paint loss, no dings or filter-ring dents, etc., so took a chance. Very low price. When it arrived, the dirt turned out to be surface only, a mixture of powdered adhesive and lint from the leather case. Cleaned up easily, and I have no idea why the seller didn't simply vacuum the thing before putting up his listing.