Inherited Leica

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trevor.y

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Thanks in advance for any advice. I recently inherited a Leica that I believe is from the 30s. Maybe a II or III. It reads Leica D.R.P. on the top and has a serial number of 337165. It also has a Summar 50mm, f2 lens and in another little plastic bubble case a Leitz Hektor 28mm f6.3 lens. I'm not sure when it was last shot, but I'm thinking about running a roll of film through it to just check it out. Or would you guys suggest sending it out to get cleaned/serviced first? If you wouldn't mind lending any wisdom I would appreciate it. It also has a cool Leitz exposure table and some hand written notes from my Dad's uncle on exposure settings. Indeed nostalgic.

Thanks,
Trevor
 
Hi Trevor,
Use the camera and the two lenses first. The Hektor may be more valuable than the Summar. Post some pics of the set. If you want a low cost CLA of the set just mail it to Eddy Smolov. He can ge googled.
 
I'm no expert but I think the Hektor is worth a lot of money. If you are unfamiliar with these cameras, be careful. I believe you need to change the shutter speeds only after you wind on. Or maybe it's the other way around. But if you do it wrong, you break the camera. Many experts here will clear it up for you, I'm a photographer, not an camera expert, and I only know about M's.
 
Trevor,

Welcome.

First thing to do is get her warmed up. Dry fire (without film) a few hundred times on each shutter speed. There may be two shutter speed dials (one slow on the front) the other fast (and tell you to go to slow) on the top. Leicas need to be used to stay in shape. Listen to the sound that each speed gives you as you start and say at 100, then 200 then 300 or so firings. If she has been sitting for some years you should hear a difference. Lots of magic inside to loosen up.

The two lenses will provide you with lots of flexibility, though there hundreds more you can get if you choose to go down that road.

Not sure how in-to photography you are but a light meter of sorts is handy, but not required for a test roll. You can use the Sunny 16 rule (google can be your friend) and guess. With print film and good 1 hour processing they can make you look very good. There are other exposure charts out there can be found for free with google that are great. Much less expensive (they are free) than a light meter.

Sorry to hear about your loss, someone must have really liked you to give you such a wonderful gift to remember them by. This Leica is a wonderful example of engineering and art in one thing. While there are better lenses, both are very able to give you GREAT results once you get to know them.

Look up the model type and get a PDF for instructions. There are a few tricks to these old Leicas (new ones just have different tricks they play on you) that are easy to master once you know about them. While I've owned several Leicas I am not able to point you to a great place to figure out more info, but someone here will chime in shortly I'm sure.

Enjoy and again, welcome to one of the best places on the Net for rangefinder stuff.

B2 (;->
 
If the Hektor is clean and non-hazy, it's easily a $500 lens.

If you have the matching hood for the Hektor, it's worth as much as the lens.

The flip-open 2.8cm finder for the Hektor is close to as expensive as the lens.

Key point: be sure you have all the easily lost accessories!

Oh, performance-wise, the Hektor is pedestrian. It stretched the state of the art in the 1930's, but that's not saying a lot today.
 
The Hektor runs $ 400 to $ 500 for the uncoated chrome version and up to $ 800 if coated. Early nickel version goes for about $ 600-650

a chrome one sold on ebay recently for $ 503 that included original caps and a photocopy leaflet http://cgi.ebay.com/Leitz-Leica-Hektor-2-8cm-28mm-f6-3-1936-No-336455_W0QQitemZ200344906168QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Photography_VintagePhotography_VintagePhotoAccessories?hash=item2ea57ca9b8&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=65%3A3%7C66%3A4%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318%7C301%3A1%7C293%3A1%7C294%3A200

Dan
 
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It's a Leica II from 1939. Do you plan on using it or selling it?


Please post pictures when you get a chance and we can tell you more.
 
Last edited:
chris00nj said:
It's a Leica II from 1939. Do you plan on using it or selling it?


Please post pictures when you get a chance and we can tell you more.
Click to expand...

I don't think that I will sell the camera. I am looking forward to either servicing and then shelving for my kids when they can appreciate it or using it. Not sure. I have checked out some of the images from the users here and they are great. I would like to try to do some of the same. We will see. Here are some pictures of the camera. And again, thanks for all the input.


hv28.jpg


h28-2.jpg


l2front.jpg



l2top.jpg
 
Yes, that`s a nice little rig!!!!

1939 Leica II Chrome

*Notice the very very late issue Summar in FEET!!!!* ~ The camera is most certainly "matching numbers" which is very very difficult to find nowadays in 1930`s Leica`s.

This camera was more than likely an early spring or mid summer 1939 Leitz New York sales camera, sold before impending hostilites in Europe, closed LNYC down for the duration in early August 1939, very uncommon Leica II in the era, by 1940 these were almost depleted in the Leica sales records.

And as you told me the Hektor`s serial number, it is a 1950 one, quite rare and collectable, should be a coated lens, might have been issued/sold to US Army PX Exchange Service in that time period. 🙂

One of the best Leica LTM camera repairmen is on vacation now till July, but he`s really great and has the BEST prices on the east coast, his name is Youxin Ye, drop me a line and I`ll send you his email, he`s back home in China till July, after that he`s back to fixing cameras 😉

Tom
 
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Nice outfit! That Hektor looks to be in sweet condition. If you are even thinking of using it, do as Tom said and send it to Youxin at the beginning. Get it working right. People get frustrated with these old cameras because they try to use them with 70 years of gunk in them.
 
LeicaTom said:
Yes, that`s a nice little rig!!!!

1939 Leica II Chrome

*Notice the very very late issue Summar in FEET!!!!* ~ The camera is most certainly "matching numbers" which is very very difficult to find nowadays in 1930`s Leica`s.

This camera was more than likely an early spring or mid summer 1939 Leitz New York sales camera, sold before impending hostilites in Europe, closed LNYC down for the duration in early August 1939, very uncommon Leica II in the era, by 1940 these were almost depleted in the Leica sales records.

And as you told me the Hektor`s serial number, it is a 1950 one, quite rare and collectable, should be a coated lens, might have been issued/sold to US Army PX Exchange Service in that time period. 🙂

One of the best Leica LTM camera repairmen is on vacation now till July, but he`s really great and has the BEST prices on the east coast, his name is Youxin Ye, drop me a line and I`ll send you his email, he`s back home in China till July, after that he`s back to fixing cameras 😉

Tom
Click to expand...

Hi,

I'm rather baffled by the comment about Leitz NY closing down as I've odds and ends of their sales literature dated 1941 and letters and sales literature from them dated 1943.

They also seem to have been issuing mid to late 30's brochures with what I call the "1941" rubber stamp used on it. Viz "Printed Prices Void" and "Prices Upon Application".

I like what you say about lens year and body matching but wonder if I've been that lucky or what? But I've only three from the 30's (35, 37 and 38) and they all match.

Some time ago when looking for a lens for my M2 I remembered that the magazines printed lists of stolen cameras and lenses. So I found all the examples I could of bodies and standard lenses stolen (together I hope) and in general terms most lenses were a year older than the body with just a few 2 years older and a few the same year. It gave me a wider choice but I never found the lens (the Tele Elmarit) I wanted (sigh).

Regards, David
 
Pablito said:
I believe you need to change the shutter speeds only after you wind on. Or maybe it's the other way around. But if you do it wrong, you break the camera.
Click to expand...
If you set the shutter speed before winding the film the SS will not be what you set. You won't break the camera. Actually I think it has to be pretty tough to damage the camera by playing with it.

Here's a free user manual -
http://www.kyphoto.com/classics/instructionmanuals.html
 
David Hughes said:
Hi,

I'm rather baffled by the comment about Leitz NY closing down as I've odds and ends of their sales literature dated 1941 and letters and sales literature from them dated 1943.

They also seem to have been issuing mid to late 30's brochures with what I call the "1941" rubber stamp used on it. Viz "Printed Prices Void" and "Prices Upon Application".

I like what you say about lens year and body matching but wonder if I've been that lucky or what? But I've only three from the 30's (35, 37 and 38) and they all match.

Some time ago when looking for a lens for my M2 I remembered that the magazines printed lists of stolen cameras and lenses. So I found all the examples I could of bodies and standard lenses stolen (together I hope) and in general terms most lenses were a year older than the body with just a few 2 years older and a few the same year. It gave me a wider choice but I never found the lens (the Tele Elmarit) I wanted (sigh).

Regards, David
Click to expand...

Leitz, printed "emergency" documents during the war a few times, but the company didn`t sell any new equipment after August 31st 1939 ~ Wartime sales and supplies went to the War effort and this was also very limited, mostly all the cameras going to the US Army Signal Corps.

To have anything Leica before 1945 with matching numbers is speical, mostly all the cameras have had their lenses taken off for extra profit, if a dealer got their hands on it.....

Tom
 
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Thanks Tom; mine aren't matching numbers but are matching the years correctly - I guess that's what you meant. And I've a rear lens cap (the black brass version) with the lens number pencilled on it (inside) on one of the lenses. A pity it doesn't match the lens' number...

Anyway, I feel lucky now. It makes up for those repair bills.

As for the 1940's sales literature (mostly price list for the printed 30's brochures) some looks like looks like duplicated. Don't know if that's what you'd call it in your part of the world but "home made" would cover it.

Thanks again, David
 
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