Cameras/Luftwaffe Leica
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Question
I have two 'Leica' cameras. They match the description of one you were questioned about on 7th July. The serial numbers are 10438 and 10611. They are both 'brass' in appearance on the top and do not seem to be gold plated. One is marked with an eagle on a swastika with Ernst Leitz Wetzlar 1923 underneath and the other has the eagle on the swastika and 'Luftwaffe' engraved under. The cameras both appear to be old with ingrained dirt, small scratch marks etc all condusive with age. The cases are definitely ond and have Leica embosssed on the front. One is dark brown and the other slightly lighter. The lenses are marked Elmar F=50mm and the lens caps are both engraved 'Leica'. Is there any chance that these are genuine? If not then what are they worth please? I can supply photographs if it will help. Any help you can give will be greatly appreciated.
Hello,
No, these are absolutely positively fakes made in the Ukraine from original Russian copies of German Leica cameras. They used FED and Zorki cameras, extremely common "clones" of the Leica II, and converted them into fake Nazi military models with eagles and swastikas and all manner of symbols that Leitz NEVER engraved on their own cameras. To make them more special, the Ukraine craftsmen would also strip the chrome or black enamel off the bodies and polish the brass underneath. Really fancy examples might even have a thin layer of cheap gold plate. They are collectible, although they have absolutely no historical significance, and the wildest examples can bring up to $300. More typically, depending on quality and decorative value, they go from as little as $75 these days up to about $200. In any given week you can find plenty of them on eBay, and the range and variety of colors and engravings and coverings is astonishing. In case you're wondering, those FED and Zorki cameras are just about worthless to begin with, so the cost to create these fakes is virtually nil.
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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