Opinions on repainted Model II?

[rybolt]

I just acquired this camera in a lot of other bodies and lenses. I have no reason to believe that it has been re-painted. The serial number puts it as early 1935. The body almost looks too good to be a black paint camera of that vintage. The body is by no means perfect. there is one small ding on the top back but not much, if any, brassing. The baseplate looks great, too.
The lens has enough haze and cleaning marks to make me think it's original to the body.
I'm looking for opinions, if possible, as to whether there are any tipoffs that it might be a re-paint. I'm going to sell it and I'm not interested in misleading a buyer. Thanks!

 

[jsrockit]

I'm not an expert, but I do know that black paint was common in this model. A look around ebay shows many in very good condition for their age.

 

[Luddite Frank]

Take a close look at the "engraved" lettering on the top-plate.

A black-paint Leica of this era would have had the lettering filled with an alloy known as "Woods Metal" or "Wismuth" (sp?), which winds-up flush with the surrounding surfaces or even slightly "proud". The Wood's Metal will often come-up silvery-shiny with some light buffing from a soft cloth.

Usually there is flaking of the paint around the edges of the lettering, from the aging of the Wood's Metal, not necessarily from wear and injury.

This camera looks to me as though the lettering is filled with white paint.

That said, the paint job looks very well-done. I would suggest that perhaps this camera was perhaps re-done at the Factory ( or authorized service center) at some point ?

I think I also see some tool-marks on a couple of the screw-heads, so it would appear that someone has worked on it at some point.

😕

 

[rybolt]

Frank, Thanks. That really helped. I had a very close look at the lettering and it is silvery shiny after a light buffing. The picture makes it look white but it's really more silver-like.
I do appreciate your help.

 

[Dralowid]

A couple of things...well more than a couple.

Leica IIs do not usually have strap lugs so these are presumably a later addition? Not a bad thing at all.

The paint looks original. It may have been touched up here and there on edges and corners where wear tends to happen but this has been done well.

Be very careful with the vulcanite. It is loose on the front. It is very brittle. Stick it down before it cracks and breaks.

...and strangle whoever undid the screws with a penknife...

Having said all that it is a very nice II from 1935, congratulations!

 

[Erik van Straten]

One of the nice things of these later cameras is the position of the D.R.P.-marking in the logo. On the earlier cameras "D.R.P." is below "Wetzlar". On later cameras like this one it is between "Leica" and "Ernst Leitz".

Nice camera. Try to get (with utmost care) a thin piece of paper with some glue on it under the vulcanite. Then tear it out while pressing the vulcanite carefully so the glue stays there. As Michael says the vulcanite is very brittle.

Erik.

 

[Luddite Frank]

Frank, Thanks. That really helped. I had a very close look at the lettering and it is silvery shiny after a light buffing. The picture makes it look white but it's really more silver-like.
I do appreciate your help.

Congratulations ! That is a very nice-looking camera for an original black-paint. 🙂

I have a II from 1932, s/n 77,3xx that is "nice", but not that nice...

Enjoy !