Cameras/Leica Lens Hektor 7.3cm 1.9
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Question
I recently came upon this lens and it has a serial number of 141438, which I
)
can not find anywhere. I have seen serial numbers listed starting in the
150,000s with a production date of 1933. I also have seen other variations of
this lens, but the serial number is always much larger and not the all black
model as I have, the ones I have seen have chrome on it. I want to sell this
and want to know what to ask as a fair value. The lens is in great shape,
especially for being 75+ years old. There is no haze or fungus, which I
know is rare for lens of this age. The only thing I see is a slight 'bubble' in
the glass right in the center of it. There is also a slight bit of dust. The
outside of the lens has a slight amount of brassing to it, but not bad either.
Please let me know.
Thank you,
Ryan
Hello Ryan,
The Hektor 7.3cm f/1.9 lens was first produced by Leitz in 1931 starting around serial #96,500. The fast aperture was deemed necessary at the time for the typically slow new color processes entering the market, most especially the tr-color Agfa Colour system, but it was also touted as uniquely suited to difficult natural light portrait shooting. It originally had an all black body, then had a nickel ring on the lower part of the focusing collar, by 1933 satin chrome replaced the nickel, and it eventually evolved into a chrome focusing scale as well. Your lens dates from the beginning of 1932, so I'm not surprised to see it is all black. A total of 7225 were manufactured up to 1940, but it was never a popular lens, probably due to its very high price, and extra examples remained in circulation for retail sale until possibly as late as 1946. As an early uncoated lens, mold and haze are usually not an issue. More important is the condition of the front element surface. Cleaning marks and scratches can be a problem. If the lens is truly excellent overall, I'd suggest a current fair market value in the $700-$750 range, with an additional $100 for the original reversible hood.
Best wishes,
David Silver
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David Silver
Expertise
I'm an expert on all types of antique, classic, and contemporary cameras, as well as the general history of photography. Everything from ancient box cameras to modern single-lens-reflex; from simple Kodaks to sophisticated Leica and Nikon; from glass plates and roll film to movie and 35mm. I can identify and appraise them, explain how they work, and offer insights on their restoration and care. I can also provide historical background on vintage cameras and equipment, and guidelines on their purchase and sale.
Experience
I've been a professional photographer and a student of the history of photography for nearly 30 years. During that time my collection of vintage cameras and photographic paraphernalia has grown beyond 2000 significant pieces. I've published nearly 70 articles in the field, including 16 in the popular "Buying Classic Cameras" series for PHOTO SHOPPER MAGAZINE from 1995 to 1997, I'm currently a contributing editor for CAMERA SHOPPER MAGAZINE and McKEOWN'S PRICE GUIDE TO ANTIQUE AND CLASSIC CAMERAS, and I've written numerous entries for WORLD BOOK ENCYCLOPEDIA. Portions of my collection have been displayed in museums and special exhibits in the past two decades, and many of the items were photographed as illustrations for books. In 1985 I founded the International Photographic Historical Organization (InPHO), which eventually evolved into its intended purpose as the best first resource for information on the history of photography. I'm also a founding member of several e-mail forums dedicated to specialized areas of photography, and I'm the moderator of the Internet Directory of Camera Collectors (IDCC), which remains the largest and most successful such group in the world. For more information about the International Photographic Historical Organization and its many services, please visit its web pages at:
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