Expert: David Silver - 11/15/2011

Question
David,

I have googled a camera that we located whilst cleaning out our laboratory and have viewed one of the answers that you gave regarding a similar camera back in 2006.  The camera we have found is a Leitz Wetzlar D.B.P. 1044601.  I was wondering whether you could provide any information regarding this.

Regards

David

Answer

Hello David,

I apologize for the delay in answering.  My little cat Princess, 18 years old, went into sudden respiratory failure, and it's been a difficult week back and forth to the pet hospital seeing her through it.  While I write this, the poor thing is sleeping on our bed, her breath rasping like a rusty old machine, and I'm afraid this is her last night with us.  Very tragic...

Back to the matter at hand, serial number 1044601 is within an unusual range, dating from extensive manufacturing output by Leitz in 1962, and there are four possibilities for what you have there.  It could be a Leica M1 (a 35mm camera designed specifically for scientific and laboratory applications), a Leica M2 (a "poor man's" version of the Leica for lower incomes), a traditional satin chrome Leica M3 (a legendary camera), or a black painted Leica M3 (an uncommon variant of the M3 for photojournalists).  Any of these would have significant resale value, but precise value depends on which one you have and what condition it's in.  The other issue is finding a buyer, and frankly you'd do much better if the camera was here in the USA where the Leica market is much stronger, but maybe I can help you with that later.  Right now I ask that you send a couple small pictures of the camera directly to me at the e-mail address provided below and I'll get back to you with a proper identification and evaluation.  After that we can discuss the best way to maximize its value.

I look forward to hearing from you!

Best wishes,

David F. Silver - President
International Photographic Historical Organization

silver@photographyhistory.com