Old timer Leica

Minox · Jul 30, 2023

A friend of mine, camera collector and a professional photographer, had a rare treat for me: one of his father’s cameras, a Leica Standard. As per its serial, no. 207520, it was made in 1936. Although extensively used (and perhaps a little abused as well), the camera exhibits one of the most vintage looks. A treat, as said.

It is obvious that the camera does not work anymore; it could, but it’s my guess that in order to have this camera functional again, a good number of repairing hours would be needed, together with a good number of high denomination banknotes. I am almost tempted, to tell you the truth. Pity about the lens, which I suspect it was a Leitz Elmar 1:3.5 F=50mm. I very much doubt this lens here can be used anymore, looks too tarnished (and of course, incomplete).

More photos of this camera here.

qqphot · Jul 30, 2023

It's amazing the amount of wear clearly from actual use! You can see just how he held it. Its owner must have rarely been without it. It's a pity the lens seems to have been torn apart brutally and the parts lost. Someone on l-c-f could probably advise on the possibility of replacing it.

Minox · Jul 30, 2023

Indeed, the guy had used it heavily, which may say something about the long journey this camera had.

cliveh · Jul 30, 2023

Going by the serial number, I would suggest this is a Leica 1 made in 1926.

awty · Jul 30, 2023

Beautiful camera.
I agree with Clive, much earlier than 1936.
This is my 1938 iiib, shutter button and rewind knob are heavily worn, optics are clean and all speeds are working, as is the camera. All cameras built so well deserve to work and be used.

Ballinderry-Michael · Jul 30, 2023

207520 is definitely 1936, in the series 207401-207600. It looks older because it's been badly treated. I sold a Standard from 1934 that looked much better than this one, though not quite as well kept as Awty's. The lens doesn't help, of course: assuming that the mount isn't wrecked, any screwmount lens will fit this.

Don_ih · Jul 30, 2023

Minox said:
It is obvious that the camera does not work anymore; it could, but it’s my guess that in order to have this camera functional again, a good number of repairing hours would be needed, together with a good number of high denomination banknotes.

I don't think it would be difficult to get that camera working. No rangefinder, no slow speeds. The shutter curtain may need replacing but my bet is no other parts do.

Don_ih · Jul 30, 2023

Ballinderry-Michael said:
207520 is definitely 1936,

Yup. A 1926 camera would be 4-digits -- and worth a decent amount.

cliveh · Jul 30, 2023

Leica Screw Mount Serial #'s Sorted by Number

Minox · Jul 30, 2023

Thank you all, for your valuable input. My information regarding the year of manufacturing and model was taken from here, where the camera appears to be a Standard, made in 1936:

Cliveh offered a different link (thank you !) where the camera is mentioned to be different, although the same year of fabrication.

A bit confused now...

mshchem · Jul 30, 2023

I found a 1932 Leica II sn 79xxx, in a box of stuff, I paid 30 USD for the box. The camera works fine. It was serviced in 1975, I think it was used minimally after the 70's.

cliveh · Jul 31, 2023

Minox said:
Thank you all, for your valuable input. My information regarding the year of manufacturing and model was taken from here, where the camera appears to be a Standard, made in 1936:

View attachment 345288

Cliveh offered a different link (thank you !) where the camera is mentioned to be different, although the same year of fabrication.

A bit confused now...

Where are these numbers from?

Ballinderry-Michael · Jul 31, 2023

Minox, the compiler of Clive's list makes it clear (in a comment just above the green panels) that "I believe that this list presently combines a number of models into the "Leica 1" heading, including many Standard "C" models and non standard "C" models". So your camera is a Standard and not a Leica 1. The Leica camera and lens pocket book, 3rd edition, Hove Foto Books, 1986, gives a corrected list reproduced "by kind permission of Ernst Leitz Wetzlar". An obvious difference between the Standard and the Leica 1 is that the Standard's rewind knob is taller and extendable. Later versions of the 1, from 1949 onwards, did have that knob but not at the time your camera was made.

I agree that your lens is/was most likely a 5cm Elmar (not a Hektor, as that was a f2.5 lens). The two screws on its plate have been transposed, presumably when someone ruined the lens by trying to do a repair of some kind. It was a collapsible lens: you could try pulling it out, as what you see is the front element. The aperture has been removed.

Minox · Jul 31, 2023

cliveh said:
Where are these numbers from?

The link in my message indicate the source. Again, I am not by any means a Leica connoisseur.

Minox · Jul 31, 2023

Ballinderry-Michael said:
Minox, the compiler of Clive's list makes it clear (in a comment just above the green panels) that "I believe that this list presently combines a number of models into the "Leica 1" heading, including many Standard "C" models and non standard "C" models". So your camera is a Standard and not a Leica 1. The Leica camera and lens pocket book, 3rd edition, Hove Foto Books, 1986, gives a corrected list reproduced "by kind permission of Ernst Leitz Wetzlar". An obvious difference between the Standard and the Leica 1 is that the Standard's rewind knob is taller and extendable. Later versions of the 1, from 1949 onwards, did have that knob but not at the time your camera was made.

I agree that your lens is/was most likely a 5cm Elmar (not a Hektor, as that was a f2.5 lens). The two screws on its plate have been transposed, presumably when someone ruined the lens by trying to do a repair of some kind. It was a collapsible lens: you could try pulling it out, as what you see is the front element. The aperture has been removed.

Thank you for clearing this up for me. As said, I am no expert or connoisseur of Leica cameras, that is why I called on the vast fount of knowledge here on this forum.

All really appreciated!!

Alan Johnson · Aug 1, 2023

What is the oldest functional camera you have?

My rollei old standard was dated around 1939, has a f3.5 lens and 1/500th shutter speed max. The fast speeds all seem to expose fairly well, but the slower ones are out - the 1 second times at about 1.6 seconds. Not bad for its age, and I'll get it serviced this coming year so I can get back...

www.photrio.com

My Leica II from the the first batch made. Must feed it some film and walk it sometime.

Ballinderry-Michael · Aug 15, 2023

Alan Johnson said:
What is the oldest functional camera you have?

My rollei old standard was dated around 1939, has a f3.5 lens and 1/500th shutter speed max. The fast speeds all seem to expose fairly well, but the slower ones are out - the 1 second times at about 1.6 seconds. Not bad for its age, and I'll get it serviced this coming year so I can get back...

www.photrio.com

My Leica II from the the first batch made. Must feed it some film and walk it sometime.

I hope your conscience is holding you to that. That is one really lovely Leica II. Here's mine, which is rather later (1938) but with a 1934 Summar.

Old timer Leica

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