New Find - Leica II Sleeping Beauty

[lynnb]

thanks for posting the photos Cassel - that's a really nice collection there. The II looks great.

 

[Chuffed Cheese]

what a beauty. thank goodness this forum likes gear. get to see cool stuff like this.

 

[Luddite Frank]

Nice find!

Can you tell me what the serial number on the Elmar lens is? (Small number on the black ring around the front element).

I have a Leica II with serial 714xx and lens 996xx and am trying to determine if they are an original combo.
Sent a PM to Jim Lager here to inquire but I guess he doesn't do PMs... So now I'm trying to find out myself.

Johan - I realize this thread is a bit old, but I was just reading it...

I have a very nice Leica II from 1932, with a nickel Elmar 5cm lens, with "11 o'clock" focus lock, and old-style lock knob ("coin-edging", similar to the shutter release collar), with a tiny plunger cylinder in the center to release the lock.

The camera s/n is 7784x, and the lens is 9998x. The commonly available references on-line put this at 1932 for both.

I bought the two as a kit from Sandy Ritz Collectible Cameras, circa 2007, and believe the two have been together for a long, long time.

Will try to grab some photos...


Cassel - very nice acquisition. Please share some photos from it !

🙂

 

[cassel]

On frame #18 on a 36 exp. roll 🙂 Switched from Elmar to Summitar at Frame #10... Might switch back but I really like the way the Summitar handles better - pretty much my favorite old Leica lens.

 

[Luddite Frank]

In 2014, my wife & I were traveling in Denmark, and I was able to pick-up two nice screwmount Leicas: one was a IIIc, converted to IIIf / BD, the other was a IIIc "stepper", that had been painted (nicely).

The c/f BD was wearing a Summitar, and the Stepper a rather scratched Summar.

I "justified" my purchases in that my digi-cam was out of memory / card, and I had used-up the proprietary batteries (Canon Powershot G-1), and I "needed" something to keep taking pictures with... 😉

I picked-up about a dozen rolls for Kodak color print film, and shot the rest of our trip with the IIIc/f BD / Summitar.

I was very pleased with the results, and have continued to used this combo.

Looking forward to seeing pictures from your II.

😎

 

[cassel]

Found a FED I case and a Pentax strap for easier carrying and shooting-
also a Chinese repro lens cap to protect the Elmar!
Actual photos from the camera soon😉 Having fun shooting it - already more than half way through a second roll.

 

[Timmyjoe]

Here's the research on the previous owner that I was able to discover:

The leather case and the inside of the baseplate have the name "A. R. Apgar" along with additional information that links up with the following information available online-


10.14.4.6.2. ALBERT REMSON APGAR, JR.,
b. 5 Jul. 1906 Lancaster, PA., d. 2 Mar 1983 Anacortes, Washington. unm. He attended the University of Pennsylvania and during W.W. II he enlisted in the US Navy. He served in Europe and England. After the war he went to work for the Government in Washington, DC, in the office of Procurement in the Bureau of Standards. After his retirement in 1967, he moved to Friday Harbor, Washington. He was an active member of the San Juan Historical Society and the San Juan Yacht Club.

Albert Apgar Jr’s uncle Charles was the father of Virginia Apgar - the inventor of the APGAR test for new babies (so she was his cousin). 😉

I love finding out the history of old cameras. It is so cool you were able to find all this information on the previous owner. Congratulations.

Best,
-Tim

 

[rfaspen]

I should have mentioned how wonderful it is to learn of the history of these cameras. I know nothing about where any of my old Leicas have been. My 1936 IIIa was a domestic model likely sold in Germany (or continental Europe). Now it lives in the PNW of USA. What happened in between? Where has it been, and with whom? What has it photographed (seen) over these years? My IIIa did not live in a closet all its life. There are scars and marks that suggest otherwise 😎

 

[Solinar]

A bit late to the party, but I'm glad I found this thread.

First, what an interesting back story to the camera. Second, more than a couple of generations later it's still a capable photographic tool. Keep at it.

 

[cassel]

Thanks-
I really do love this camera. I'll re-post the latest work tonight- (Stupid Computers)

 

[cassel]

 

[lxmike]

a nice line up of rangefinders

 

[cassel]

Recently traded some gear (bye bye Baby Makina) for a Canon LTM 50mm f1.5 lens-- this is one that I've wanted for a long time! Worth the wait- what a fantastic lens and it pairs nicely with the '32 Leica.

Here are some samples from a recent roll with Kodak Portra 400 - lovely colors.

this is f2.0

this is f1.5

this is f2.8

f11

f11 - not sure if that's my finger or part of the strap or what in the lower right of the frame

 

[presspass]

Excellent photos. Thanks for sharing. When you have more, please consider posting them.

 

[cassel]

I appreciate the feedback!
I will post more...I´m using the RFF Gallery for hosting on these, so I´m limited to 5 each day. My links from my normal hosting are not as stable for some reason.

 

[lxmike]

glad its back and 'reborn' for many happy years ahead

 

[leica M2 fan]

You have many reasons to be be chuffed with your Leica II.
I've really enjoyed all the info on this thread from you and
the RFF members who posted replies. And a tip of the hat to
Youxin for his contribution- he is great!

 

[cassel]

Here's what the camera looks like with that Canon f1.5 :

Here's two more from that last roll - some New Year's Day car show shots:

 

[cassel]

More work with the Leica II + Canon 50m f1.5 combo:

 

[gb hill]

Nice. I enjoyed reading the progression of your find & the photos. Perhaps you can continue the relationship between you & the II by posting here.