leica IIIc wartime postwar

[randy6]

I recently acquired a leica IIIC serial number 396xxx not really wartime I guess postwar. This one belonged to US Major Andrew Park were these's given as gifts or used by signal corps or just bought at PX stations? The chrome is in wonderful shape so maybe not signal corps. I think these are referred to as half race cameras I could be wrong. Anyone know anything about these stepper IIIc's ? Is there anything written about these?

Thanks Randy

 

[rgeorge911]

That serial number would have been no later than 1946.

https://www.cameraquest.com/ltmnum.htm

I have a 394xxx camera that the expert on these things, James Lager, told me was most likely purchased by an Allied military man at the end of the war. Lovely little camera.

Mr. Lager is associated with the LHSA (International Leica Society), of which I'm a member. Plenty of people there interested in these cameras. If you get into Leica usage and history, I would suggest you consider joining. It's a great group:

http://lhsa.org

I also write a lot about Leicas and other cameras on my blog:
DMC-365.blogspot.com

Cheers!
Reed

 

[Richard S. (rich815)]

I'm curious/confused. What on the camera designates this as unique to other Leica IIIc? The serial number?

 

[Richard S. (rich815)]

No clarification?

 

[randy6]

This IIIc is referred as stepper model rewind release is placed on a platform And eye diopter lever has a little knob and maybe a different shutter. like the models used by the German military except these late models were sold to US serviceman. for military use or personal ?

I do need to join http://lhsa.org I just spoke Mr Lager on this and other things like this. He did an article on a very rare ploot and viewfinder I found in 2011

 

[Richard S. (rich815)]

Interesting. Thanks.