Leica LTM Leica III with 7 digit serial number

Leica M39 screw mount bodies/lenses
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Is there any legitimate reason for a Leica III having a seven digit serial number engraved on the top plate? No. 1524xxx

Thanks,
Mark
 
Hi,

Interesting, especially as, if it was just 1524xx, it would be a 1935 model III but I expect you've realised that...

Regards, David
 
David Hughes said:
Hi,

Interesting, especially as, if it was just 1524xx, it would be a 1935 model III but I expect you've realised that...

Regards, David
Click to expand...

For some reason I hadn't thought to look up that number :bang: I had looked up the serial number without the leading 1. Your suggestion makes far more sense. That last digit is a 0.
A bit of background on this camera. It was sold as a Leica copy, but if it is not a genuine Leica, it is a fake as it has Leica engraving on the top plate. It appears to be in a quite bad state of repair with an aftermarket flash sync plate mounted on the front. To my untrained eye everything indicates a genuine Leica except for the serial number. It has a slow speed dial, the lip on the viewfinder window, round rangefinder lens cam, and strap lugs.
 
Mr_Flibble said:
I missed that on the first pass :bang:

But yeah, the whole finish of the camera screams Soviet Copy to me.
Click to expand...

It does to me, but all the specific obvious signs (except the serial number) are for it being genuine, or someone has put more effort than usual in to obscuring the original camera.
 
Do the slow speeds work? IE are they actually there? This will tell a lot.
No diopter adjustment on rangefinder, ie it could originally be FED
Top housing and engraving looks very odd indeed
Shutter dial looks wrong, numbers wrong.
Covering?

Better pics would help but from these it looks like an 'assemblage' of some sort

With apologies

Michael
 
I seen that one first I thought it was fed around the viewfinder it certainly looks like one. Then I thought it looks a lot like a leotax no eye correction but still has slow speeds. I think the lens may be a real elmar. I passed on the bidding for that one.
 
Dralowid said:
Do the slow speeds work? IE are they actually there? This will tell a lot.
No diopter adjustment on rangefinder, ie it could originally be FED
Top housing and engraving looks very odd indeed
Shutter dial looks wrong, numbers wrong.
Covering?

Better pics would help but from these it looks like an 'assemblage' of some sort

With apologies

Michael
Click to expand...

All good questions, but I'm afraid I cannot answer them.

I should probably find something more productive to waste my time on, but I do find the whole fake Leica subject very interesting. The immediate telltale signs of a fake do not seem to be present with this camera. I have never really understood the economic drivers to produce low value fakes, but if someone is prepared to go to these lengths then I'm sure they will turn/have turned their attention to higher value Leica.

You are right, the numbers on shutter speed dial are strangely skewed.

Cheers,
Mark
 
the flash shoe?

the flash shoe?

I seem to remember someone once pointing out that on "real" Leica's the flash shoe attaches with four screws vs three on the FSU cameras.

mike
 
The Leica III (and the IIIa) has 3 screws holding down the accessory shoe and the shape of the shoe with the little lip at the front is correct for Leica.
Bottom plate and internals seems to match closer with my IIIa, not so much with those on my FED NKVD.

But as said, it's missing the Diopter Adjustment.

Replacement top cover perhaps?
 
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