Leica LTM My Leica Book and the IIIC K information

Leica M39 screw mount bodies/lenses
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LeicaTom

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Hello RFF'ers

Some folks here may have noticed that I have deleted the IIIC K thread just a short while ago, I did this as to prepare for my Leica Book that's being written by Dr Leo and I, and also while the thread has come to haunt me in recent times and I think that in my better personal interests it was the best to remove the thread and it's information from the internet.

As soon as there's more news about the book I will post about it here, also I have removed the HU: Leica LTM Rarites thread, while some of the auctions there where of cameras that are doubtful, I would rather not discuss the originality of gear/cameras openly online anymore where anyone can take advange of this, for good or bad.

Tom
 
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Sorry to see that topic go, mainly for all the lovely IIIcK images in there, but as you've explained, it's quite understandable that you've removed it.

An Eye-candy topic will have to do 😉
 
Tom, I respect your choices in this, although I will miss that thread dearly.

At least you gave us notice, instead of just pulling the plug. That would not be considered civil around here, right?
 
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Tom, I fully understand and respect your decision, but I am afraid you are mistaken to think you can "remove information from the internet." The best you can hope for is to make it a little more challenging to find, but it's out there and will remain.

I have no doubt that those who would exploit the expertise shared here have copies of their own.

Also, while you are fully within your rights to remove a post you started, likewise everybody else on the forum has the right to post this material again if they wish -- including quoting from you and using your photos:

By posting your comments or images on RFF, you are giving permanent irrevocable permission for those posts and images to be used at RFF on the RFF site, even if and when you are no longer a RFF member. This includes but is not limited to others quoting your posts, others using your images in their posts for discussions, your posts being visible in the forums, your images being visible in the gallery or in the random gallery images.
Click to expand...

This is from the copyright section of the FAQ.

My point is that I believe it is better to discuss this information openly. I do not think it has much bearing on your upcoming publication, or indeed your consulting services. Wishing you success with both.
 
LeicaTom said:
Hello RFF'ers

"Some folks here may have noticed that I have deleted the IIIC K thread . . . the thread has come to haunt me in recent times and I think that in my better personal interests it was the best to remove the thread and it's information from the internet."

"I would rather not discuss the originality of gear/cameras openly online anymore where anyone can take advange of this, for good or bad."

Tom
Click to expand...

Holy Cow! I had not looked at the IIIck thread in a while. When I decided it was time to catch up, it was gone! How did this information become such a problem that it had to be destroyed? I wonder how it was "haunting" you, or a liability to your personal interests? Is it OK to discuss that? It all sounds so ominous.

Gee, this is too bad. All things must come to an end, I guess: "And this, too, shall pass."
 
Rob-F said:
Holy Cow! I had not looked at the IIIck thread in a while. When I decided it was time to catch up, it was gone! How did this information become such a problem that it had to be destroyed? I wonder how it was "haunting" you, or a liability to your personal interests? Is it OK to discuss that? It all sounds so ominous.

Gee, this is too bad. All things must come to an end, I guess: "And this, too, shall pass."
Click to expand...

No Rob, I would rather not discuss it, the world will be better informed once the book is published and when I have my Leica website online, (I'm looking for a website designer now) ~ till then I will just run a casual "eye candy" thread here that will sometimes feature my IIIC K's in pictures.

Tom
 
As I have done before Dr Leo and I are STILL collecting serial numbers of surviving Leica IIIC K Grey and US Army Leica cameras ~ these numbers will be featured at the end of our book and will give the collector an idea of just how many of these cameras are left, I've been collecting serial numbers now for over 6 years.

Tom
 
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Rob,

I'm pretty sure that #397650 is a mistake, while the latest 1946 "stepper" IIIC that I have even recorded produced is #598 (ca. May 1946) and any cameras starting in the #600 series are "flattops" with self timers, used at the factory *Betriebskamera's* in 1964/65. (I have seen at least 10 of these, mostly almost always for sale in Germany).

Tom
 
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According to Cane and J.Lager List last serial delivered to Luftwaffe was grau IIIC-K n.391500 (well,officially, is known there were authentic military batches delivered only to BLN. (Berlin) without any military reference) .

There was also a batch from 397611 to 397811,that was for internal use (Betriebskamera).
Some cameras from this batch were transformed as IIIF with or without s.t . and never given to dealers, only sold to Leitz employees .

These were the last screwmount Leicas from year 1965-1967.

The n. 397811 is THE LAST screwmount Leica.


Cheers
 
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Yes,I know,Hahne list is not complete,a good reference to start with,but it would be necessary an update.
According to J.Lager and Cane list (the book of Leica Historica-year 2005) numbers are the ones given before.
The same thing happens ,for example,with Leica IA,there are some errors as stated in the Angela and Henning von Einem book "Leica I Model A Variations" ,the best work regarding Leica IA.
 
SH01204a.jpg


A camera full of lovely patina.......but sadly without it's original lens 🙁 and it's vulcanite has been replaced with an ugly unpainted black shell, and it has a non Leitz Flash Sync on the upper back top plate *yuck!* ~ would be a good shooter camera, it's only worth about $500 tops before CLA and restoration of the vulcanite ~ it's gastly overpriced at £1,899.00!!!!!!!!!!!!

It's an Ex-US Army camera, have'nt run this one yet, but I'm sure it's from August/Sept 1945.

As I'd mentioned before in that other thread, it's always best to buy from a private sale, when it comes to these cameras, the dealers and ebay and always grossly overpriced despite cameras in such a poor condition.....

Thanks again

Tom
 
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04.jpg


Here' my 45' US Army IIIC K Grey, (the Japanese American Lieutenant's camera) with an original LTM 43' CZJ Sonnar T f1.5 50mm lens, basicly this time just for show, I need to CLA this camera and also do some cosmetic work on her.

The dealer who sold it to me had a very well known Leica repairman swap out shells and while it's the correct pattern vulcanite, it's NOT the correct shell, it came from a Stepper IIIC to IIIFBD conversion
(see bumper) and also the Luftwaffe paint is some cheap model paint and not a mathing color, so the repairman kinda dropped the ball, but nothing I can't fix.
(I'm lucky that I bought enough junk IIIC's with good shell's so I can repair the cameras I need to display in the book and also for my static online display).

Camera is 96% paint with the worst wear at the lower front right corner of the base plate (I'm sure the camera was used in and out of the case for a tripod), the top plate is near flawless.

So this one will get some attention soon, CLA, swap out a new correct pattern shell with mixed RLM 75 paint done and the new shutter curtains will have a new "K" stamp as well.......this one will be one of my keepers, I think though I will use it from time to time also, but some fun PinUp rolls of film through it.

Mostly I have all my work now going through TWO 45' IIIC K Chromes, one which still needs a shell swap and "K" stamp, it's shooting just fine though, for not having a CLA yet.

That's the latest news on my Kugellager cameras, still going strong after all these years and shooting pix, more info as I make it and get these two ready for CLA's

Enjoy!

Tom
 
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Tom,

my lens is as nice as yours, but that pristine cap of yours... I cannot stop to marvel it. Mine is dented and once was painted flat black but most of the paint on the rims is gone. I'm checking Contax auctions on a regular basis but so far no luck😕...

Something tells me a lot of these brilliant pictures of yours will be in your book as well!? I'm gonna get me that book the moment it's available.
 
buzzardkid said:
Tom,

my lens is as nice as yours, but that pristine cap of yours... I cannot stop to marvel it. Mine is dented and once was painted flat black but most of the paint on the rims is gone. I'm checking Contax auctions on a regular basis but so far no luck😕...

Something tells me a lot of these brilliant pictures of yours will be in your book as well!? I'm gonna get me that book the moment it's available.
Click to expand...

Johan,

I THINK? That some of those caps WERE painted flat black from the factory? Perhaps for the late 43'/44 lenses with the black front rims?
(I'm still looking for one of those *late* #272xxxx "black rim" lenses for my 45' IIIC K Chrome).

I was told that these Jena Logo caps are'nt original to the "wartime"LTM lenses, but I don't completely believe that......I've seen WW2 "BRINGBACK" lenses with US Army capture paperwork and the caps were one and the same.
(Leitz had exchanged caps back and forth with the Elmar and the Summitar during WW2 and it's difficult to pin down certain caps for the 5 years, sometimes metal, sometimes bakelite, sometimes chrome, sometimes painted grey, I'm sure their were also cap supply shortages at Zeiss as well in those hard times).

Yeah, that cap DID'NT come with my lens as I bought it, but I found it like 2 weeks after I bought the lens, it came from a Contax collection in California, that's the BEST way to find one of these, I really lucked out I paid like $28 for it and have'nt seen one for sale since then 🙁

I really love this lens, I just haven`t been shooting it with that much real film lately, it's been living almost full time on my M8 working digital ~ WHAT A COMBO!!!!

Tom
 
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The book planning has been put on indefinite hold, due to financial issues, I don't know when things will get better in the ecomomy, but when things are recovered I'm sure I will be able to reconsider publishing something.....

Tom
 
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