Hey RJ!
Thank you for the link! It was very interesting to read the article regarding that strange Leica.
Perhaps I´m unable to bring much new info about this particular camera however it started my interest in it and I will bring as much information as I can.
I have a very old argentine photo magazine issue named “FOTO” from Nov. 1937 advertising the new leica IIIa with the 50/1.5 Xenon lens, sold “ only at Lutz Ferrando y Cia. S.A.”.
Of course I know Lutz Ferrando. They were Leitz (full product range) only seller in Argentina for many years (as early as 1937 as per the ad), and the contract with E. Leitz ceased when the company went into bankrupt during the ´80s. Unfortunately, the company doesn´t exist anymore as it was, but today belongs to an investors group who licensed the name (franchising). They sell only APS, glasses under medical supervision and sunglasses. As far as I was told, no records were kept of previous activities, other than those required by the law.
The CQ article discuss about the markings, and I agree to say that this camera belonged to either a high ranked German Merchant Navy / Kriegsmarine officer or a nazy party member, able either to pay the high asking price it had, or being supplied with it under official service terms. This last perhaps much more possible than being it the personal camera of someone.
The marking “Lutz Ferrando” in the bottom plate was nothing else than a kind of a stamp of the seller (I was told it was kind of certification of purchase for the warranty). It was usually either marked, stamped or engraved in any scientific, technical or photographic equipment whose quality and/or price may justify it. External engravings cannot be traced to any repair, as long as LF didn´t do it with any cameras, instead technicians let some internal handmade markings (as many fine watchmakers do when repairing any fine watch) underneath the bottom/back plate or on internal surfaces not usually visible to the user.
Both practices were kept well into the ´70s (perhaps until companys closing) as I saw two 1970/71 M4 engraved with LF and owner´s name. So, the camera was sold in Buenos Aires by Lutz Ferrando to someone, and engraved under owners request.
No doubt the IIIa with Xenon 1.5 was the top model available at the time, so the LF engraving was justified.
The other marking “Kriegsmarine”, was surely added under request of the owner also by LF. At that time (1936/7), Leicas and Contaxes were regarded as fine jewels or very fine watches, and treated the same way by the sellers (and users too).
Regarding the MF. 002.017 … I guess the capitals do stand for Marine Flieger (Korps), which was the German Navy´s air branch.
I think it was far more convenient to use a small and light camera onboard a small Arado boat plane, plenty of film and easy to work with when doing any patrol or surveillance flight, instead of a heavier and bulkier Exakta 6x6.
The use of the best available lens means a camera expected to dim light working, and the finder for 135 mm, an aid for the photographer to locate and identify ships easier than with naked eye (in case they were used together…
Remember this is just a guess... not even a "qualified guess"...
Regarding the numbering , I really do not know.
I read that numbering was generally traced to either a purchase specification or purchase order. I´m in doubt no records of it would survive today.
Perhaps this numbering would identify the ship and something else… who knows?
The most significant piece of information about is that the camera was bought at auction in Uruguay. It is too close to Argentina (less than 2 km at some places).
Best regards
Ernesto
