Leica Standard or Leica I

[raid]

Hi Johan.

Next, Mr. Uhl will try to look up which Leica dealership received my (modified) camera for some client. It is not a "special" camera, unless the owner was someone special or the camera was used for something special. At least I know that Leica did the modification and not some unknown individual.

 

[JB-Dancer]

The mystery of my camera with two accessory shoes has been explained to me by Nicolas Uhl, Managing Director of Leica Camera, Frankfurt. THank you! [and to Oliver Kaltner who kindly connected me with Mr. Uhl).

Mr. Uhl checked the Leica records, and he informed me that my camera did not initially leave the factory with two accessory shoes. He also affirmed that Leica did the modification later on for some customer.

Hello Raid,
My Leica 1A "mushroom release" in Black & nickel (Serial no.8249) made in 1928 was converted by Leica to a Post-War Leica 1c (Black & Chrome) in about 1949/51 and has two accessory shoes.
I think this conversion from a Leica 1A (1928) to a Post-War 1c is a "unique - 'one off ' conversion" and was perhaps by special order. I have never seen this conversion listed by Leitz and I have been looking at converted cameras since the mid-1950's when I was in my mid-teens.
The changes to your Leica 1 Standard could have been done in the 1950's also or even earlier.

See:- https://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=91238&page=14

 

[raid]

Mr. Uhl did not view such Leica executed changes as making such Leica cameras special.
He told me that such a designation as being "special" depends on who used the camera and for what purpose. If our cameras were custom changed by Leica, they are "less ordinary", I guess. Some photographers preferred a camera with two accessory shoes for your camera and for mine. Maybe it is "special" after all!

 

[JB-Dancer]

Hello Raid,
In my case the conversion to Post-War 1c (Black & chrome) was to Post-War Leica 1c specification, that being - the camera had two accessory shoes and no fixed viewfinder.

 

[raid]

I see. In my case, the Standard comes usually with a fixed 5cm finder, as you know.