Sharkskin Leica IIIC K ~ 1950's Hybrid camera find [Archive]

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LeicaTom

09-01-2010, 08:43

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v477/koolgirliestuff/More%20Leica%20Photos/net.jpg?t=1283358467

Just received this in the mail today ~ A 1945 issued Leica IIIC K #3909xx K (July 1945) LOOKX (Leica IIIC K w/Summitar) which was originally Grey, but sometime around 1948/49 the camera had a factory/professional upgrade, was "de-militarized" top and bottom plates shiny/satin chromed and a "Sharkskin" body shell added.....

The rest of the camera is all 1945 as issued and what's really great is the original shutter curtains are still in the camera, the white "K" is still boldly visible on curtain #1 ~ curtains are "light tight"so they are ready to go!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v477/koolgirliestuff/More%20Leica%20Photos/276.jpg?t=1283364214

I've seen about 4 or 5 of these type of cameras already, some here in the states, the others were in England, so a few IIIC K's went back to Leitz to get "upgraded" from tatty looking beaters, to modern looking cameras.......no one was really thinking about that someday these cameras would become valuable collectors items, and just like the Leitz factory conversions, this camera is a hybrid of sorts, a unique article of history.

I was considering this to be a "project" before I got it into my hands, a possible camera to strip and restore back to original grey, but the finish and work on the camera is too way too nice to ruin, so it's going to be my daily "user" and it will be getting a COMPLETE OVERHAUL, as soon as Youxin's back from China, I already have a secondary parts camera (1942) which will be providing some swap-out knobs and levers, and everything else will be adjusted, and that Summitar sitting on it is a "wartime" produced 1943/1946 issued lens and will be focused to be used this body.

I'll have some more detailed pix of the camera, as time goes by to add here, just thought I'd share this with interested people here.

Enjoy!

Tom

PS: I want to say thanks to Chris for finding this camera and offering it to me, it's going to be a really kool shooter...I'll be using another "K" shutter Leica for my PinUp work all the time, I'm really stoked :D ~ This makes #6 now, 6 original K shuttered Leica IIIC's, I'd like to find a "real" 1942 Chrome one still and maybe a "minty" 1945 Grey camera with it's original issue Summitar, 8 cameras that's enough! :p

Loman

09-01-2010, 10:43

What a beauty. I used to have a plain jane IIIc that was converted to a IIIF. It took some time to get used to the shark skin but in the end I really liked it.

Kind Regards

Mads

LeicaTom

09-01-2010, 11:10

What a beauty. I used to have a plain jane IIIc that was converted to a IIIF. It took some time to get used to the shark skin but in the end I really liked it.

Kind Regards

Mads

Yes, this is the first "user" camera I've ever had with Sharkskin covering, but I can say I like the feel of it already, I think it's going to work well.

Just have to get used to seeing a K on the top plate, after the serial number ~ only used to seeing them on Grey painted cameras as I handle them, it's too bad that Leitz made less than 500 original Chrome IIIC K's in 1942, and that very very few of them survived the war it seems.........

Tom

???

09-01-2010, 11:14

Now I have to re-skin my M with shark.

I picked up a pair of shark boots recently and love them though they require much more conditioning than my other boots.

sykotec

09-01-2010, 11:31

glad you're happy with it - I knew that thing had to be 'rescued' from a shelf and put into real use. I thought about keeping it myself, but it belongs in your hands. besides, neat as it is, my IIIf that Don went through several years ago is just TOO smooth to give up. looking forward to a CL that's on the way to him as well. finally and M mount, even if it is a 'lowly' one!

the sharkskin IS pretty neat - whenever the vulcanite on the IIIf gets bad I'll have to flip a coin between recovering with griptac and swapping with a sharkskin shell.

sykotec

09-01-2010, 11:34

I've had a pair of (Nocona I think?) sharkskin boots for about... 20 years now. they've been resoled a few times, but broke in really well after about a decade. give 'em time.

Now I have to re-skin my M with shark.

I picked up a pair of shark boots recently and love them though they require much more conditioning than my other boots.

johnnygulliver

09-01-2010, 12:59

the post-war upgrade is history too, it's a difficult one to call... is it 'original' or restored.

LeicaTom

09-22-2010, 14:23

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v477/koolgirliestuff/More%20Leica%20Photos/934fornet.jpg?t=1285194061

Another shot of my latest acquisition the 1948/49 Leica IIIC K upgrade/with Sharkskin covering, this time with a "wartime" build US Army issued "coated" f3.5/50mm Elmar lens. (background is 1950/51 era Leica Photography Magazines).

That "sharkskin" covering is really nice, it's too bad that Leitz didn't stay with that covering, they only issued it (two years) 1949/50 TOO BAD :/

Waiting for next month's CLA/Resto from Youxin (he will be doing a full rebuild/restoration/knobs-levers swap) and the speical CLA'd (a very very RARE "wartime" lens *it will be a SUPRISE!*) that will be coming back from DAG hopefully under 30 days ~ the crazy looking combo will be the FIRST time anyone at RFF TESTS the two out together, I'm crossing fingers that the lens comes back with near perfect shooting glass ~ can't wait!

Enjoy!

Tom

buzzardkid

09-22-2010, 21:34

LeicaTom

09-23-2010, 00:19

So you found that wartime lens you were looking for, Tom?

Boy, can't wait to see shots of and with that!

Is that donor camera a wartime number? If Youxin will finish the job with a still fully or partly functional donor camera, I might be interested in that, to help you cover expenses. Mail me off the board at johan@portretteur.nl to arrange if you like.

BTW, one of your remarks in e-mail set me on a trail to something nice as well and I'm probably closing the deal this weekend. If I do, I'll post here and show off :cool:

No I'm still looking for a CZJ Sonnar T f2/50mm in original LTM ......

Concerning #3774xx check your email, I will have enclosed all the info about it...consider it yours, I admire a man with initiative, I have gotten many cameras and collectibles that way too, Thanks Johan!

Tom

buzzardkid

09-23-2010, 01:28

Tom,

looking forward to that e-mail of yours, this might be the winter project I was looking for! :)

EDIT: Düh, I wasn't paying attention, you sent me info on that before, reading it now:cool:

LeicaTom

09-23-2010, 01:33

Tom,

looking forward to that e-mail of yours, this might be the winter project I was looking for! :)

Johan,

Check your mail.......I hope that it's an alright deal for you, pretty much a midwartime "stepper" that just needs some cleaning up CLA and a nice recovering, a
"jewel in the rough" ~ go ahead and write me back I'll be up all night here :D

Tom

Jaans

09-23-2010, 02:02

LeicaTom

09-23-2010, 02:32

Tom - I have been following your IIICK threads off and on for a while now. I actually first learnt about the history of this particular camera from rangefinderforum from one of your original longer threads (was deleted, don't know why?). I then checked Mr Gandy's website and had a further read about this interesting camera.

I admit that I have started to lust after one of these, but from the few examples that I have seen sold on the internet, they are too expensive for my budget.

I have a few questions about them.. Firstly, what are IIICK's grey cameras going for in reasonable condition? I saw one on e-bay maybe two weeks ago and it went for $2500. Is that the norm? Is it better to get one in less condition and do it up like the one you got. I prefer the grey cameras personally.

Also, where have all the IIICK's gone and why are there so few left being sold on auction sites? Are they in the hands of collectors or just not many left in existence/destroyed in the war?

Anyway, thanks for sharing some more information about your excellent find!

They are STILL out there......the Grey cameras are and have always been collectible since day one, the American GI's coveted them and they were on the top of the lists of the black market trade items after May 1945 in Europe.....

Prices, well they have been $1,200+ plus for over 10 years now, the days of getting one for $250 are long gone, (I never paid less than $1,500 for any Grey Painted K I've ever owned, I've always paid good money for them).

Top condition IIIC K Grey paint cameras are in the norm at $2,500, but most cameras aren't that nice anymore, finding any camera that's Grey and has 90% or better paint is a jewel, the average condition paint/and beat up vulcanite cameras are $1,400+

Prices aren't going to come down, if anything they are going to go up, while the offered examples of these cameras are getting thinner and thinner.....

Here was a camera that was originally a Grey issue "normal bearing" camera, but it was painted by someone, whoever did it seems to have done a nice job, the price was decent, about what you would pay for a quailty paintjob, anyway.......

http://cgi.ebay.com/1939-Leica-IIIc-Wartime-Black-Paint-LTM-/110585342929?pt=Film_Cameras&hash=item19bf666bd1

Right now the market for the Grey cameras is all but dead, most dealers realize that no one has the money for these at the moment and the best condition cameras are being HELD by collectors now and NOT offered for sale, most cameras seen on evilbay or online are "second rate" examples and are worn out, not original and or missing their original lenses........and for me that's a real factor in buying a camera in the first place, keeping it real and all original, restoring is fine also, to get any camera BACK to original operating condition, while a broken IIIC K is a sad camera :( too good to shelve and sit in a China cabinet, all of mine, cept the 1943 are used, they are fun and maybe the hybrid/best version of all the Leica IIIC's :D

Good Luck in the Search!

Tom

Jaans

09-23-2010, 02:40

They are STILL out there......the Grey cameras are and have always been collectible since day one, the American GI's coveted them and they were on the top of the lists of the black market trade items after May 1945 in Europe.....

Prices, well they have been $1,200+ plus for over 10 years now, the days of getting one for $250 are long gone, (I never paid less than $1,500 for any Grey Painted K I've ever owned, I've always paid good money for them).

Here was a camera that was originally a Grey issue "normal bearing" camera, but it was painted by someone, whoever did it seems to have done a nice job, the price was decent, about what you would pay for a quailty paintjob, anyway.......

http://cgi.ebay.com/1939-Leica-IIIc-Wartime-Black-Paint-LTM-/110585342929?pt=Film_Cameras&hash=item19bf666bd1

Right now the market for the Grey cameras is all but dead, most dealers realize that no one has the money for these at the moment and the best condition cameras are being HELD by collectors now and NOT offered for sale, most cameras seen on evilbay are "second rate" examples and are worn out, not original and missing their original lenses........for me that's a real factor in buying a camera in the first place.

Prices aren't going to come down, if anything they are going to go up, while the examples of these cameras are getting thinner and thinner

Good Luck!

Tom

Thanks for that comprehensive description of the market for this particular camera. Also, did you see that camera that I was referring to on e-bay that went for $2500 a little while ago - it seemed in very good condition. I can't remember if it had a K on the shutter. For me, I wouldn't purchase unless the K was on the shutter as that is one of the most attractive feature of the camera.

Also, why was that long thread deleted that was going here sometime ago. It was one of the most comprehensive areas of information about this camera that I have read on the net to date. It was a shame it was deleted as it would have made a good sticky.

Anyway, thanks again for sharing your knowledge on this most rare camera!

Cheers

LeicaTom

09-23-2010, 02:44

Thanks for that comprehensive description of the market for this particular camera. Also, did you see that camera that I was referring to on e-bay that went for $2500 a little while ago - it seemed in very good condition. I can't remember if it had a K on the shutter. For me, I wouldn't purchase unless the K was on the shutter as that is one of the most attractive feature of the camera.

Also, why was that long thread deleted that was going here sometime ago. It was one of the most comprehensive areas of information about this camera that I have read on the net to date. It was a shame it was deleted as it would have made a good sticky.

Anyway, thanks again for sharing your knowledge on this most rare camera!

Cheers

Ohh I deleted the thread due to some legal probs etc. etc. ~ I still plan a book/and or a "static" museum website featuring my cameras and a brief history of the camera.

I'm not sure I know the camera that did $2,500? Please send me a link to the auction at my email

koolgirliestuff@gmail.com

I have to see if it's on my camera lists, some cameras have "come back" after years in collections, some are being resold again :)

Tom

greyelm

09-23-2010, 08:04

I have a 1942 Summitar s/n 585*** . There are no special markings on it. Would this have been for civilian use or could it have been military issue.

Malcolm

LeicaTom

09-23-2010, 12:15

I have a 1942 Summitar s/n 585*** . There are no special markings on it. Would this have been for civilian use or could it have been military issue.

Malcolm

#585xxx is a 1942 build/1945 issue lens, was more than likely issued US Army Occupation Forces Germany, it is possibly coated as many of the postwar issued "Tar's" were...........good and fun shooting lens!

Tom

buzzardkid

09-23-2010, 12:25

LeicaTom

09-23-2010, 13:19

http://yahoofreak.com/animated%20emoticons/Smile%20Animated%20Emoticons/happy%20dance.gif I'll be shooting a '42 Stepper before X-mas! Youxin's gonna get it on track, how about Leica Red leather to replace vulcanite that came off? :eek: or :cool: ?

Ahhh red leather????? That will catch people's eyes that's for sure.......

Didn't you like the Black Lizard?????

http://www.cameraleather.com/leica_s/3C_blkliz01.jpg

I really like that........all my IIIC K's have original coverings, just this newest chrome one has the "sharkskin" and I'm not going to remove that, I suppose the next Ball-Bearing "Stepper" I buy I WILL put the Black Lizard skin on it and a "wartime" Sonnar for kicks! :)

.....Green covering looks really nice too :)

http://www.cameraleather.com/leica_s/3C_comp_g1.jpg

I mean there's so many early IIIC's out there which have NO/ 0% vulcanite, so why not put a POSH looking covering onto it?

Johan, what's the surprise deal you worked out this past weeekend???
?
Write me off the board first, ok?????

Tom

Jaans

09-23-2010, 14:24

Ohh I deleted the thread due to some legal probs etc. etc. ~ I still plan a book/and or a "static" museum website featuring my cameras and a brief history of the camera.

I'm not sure I know the camera that did $2,500? Please send me a link to the auction at my email

koolgirliestuff@gmail.com

I have to see if it's on my camera lists, some cameras have "come back" after years in collections, some are being resold again :)

Tom

Tom- unfortunately I have no link. I was following the auction for this camera on e-bay (about two weeks ago) and gave up once it hit $2000. I deleted it from my watch list but I think that it went for between $2200-2500. I'm pretty sure that there was a K on the shutter as well, which makes it more valuable I guess?? The cameras with the K on the shutter are more valuable right?

Shame about that former thread but I guess we can start again and contribute to a new thread about this most interesting camera!

Thanks again for your insight>

enasniearth

09-23-2010, 14:31

LeicaTom

09-23-2010, 14:56

LeicaTom

09-23-2010, 15:08

Tom- unfortunately I have no link. I was following the auction for this camera on e-bay (about two weeks ago) and gave up once it hit $2000. I deleted it from my watch list but I think that it went for between $2200-2500. I'm pretty sure that there was a K on the shutter as well, which makes it more valuable I guess?? The cameras with the K on the shutter are more valuable right?

Shame about that former thread but I guess we can start again and contribute to a new thread about this most interesting camera!

Thanks again for your insight>

oHH wait this was the one in the Netherlands.........

http://img.iwascoding.com/1/2010/09/05/B0/C92B9F0DC9D8439CB8045872C139E62D.jpg

http://cgi.ebay.com/LEICA-ORIGINAL-WWII-IIIC-K-GREY-VERY-RARE-WORKS-PERFECT-/110582666548?pt=Film_Cameras&hash=item19bf3d9534

a "late" 1943 "K" that was originally from a stateside collection and sold on evilbay for like $1,400 and then was resold for $2,300

My opinion?

Nice camera, had the vulcanite touched up /repainted slightly, very pretty "patina" like 75% paint, the shutter K looks "dry" so there may have been material issues, overall a kool camera ~ (I just arranged a deal for one in about the same condition with the original matching numbers lens).

This camera was a deal at $1,400 (first sale) but resold at $2,300? ~ it's pretty pricey for it's lensless condition.......always one of my driving factors is that the camera STILL has it's original lens, you can't always find them that way, but when you do, it's wise advice to keep the combo together instead of breaking up history ;)

Enjoy!

Tom

Vickko

09-23-2010, 15:36

Leica boutique has a IIIc grey. My bets are that it'll be expensive

https://www.leicaboutique.com/shop.php?CUR=1&IDC=1&ENC=&IDSC=9

ravid905

09-23-2010, 16:12

The camera Tom mentioned that was repainted black , if you look closely at the ad photos it retains it's grey paint vulcanite shell . The paint is worn but original . Still very nice painted black , the seller also had an early Russian 5cm lens that went high as it appeared to have zeiss glass with the light magenta coatings and the mount was very close in similarity to the wartime zeiss aluminum mount . Russian production for sure , very early though . The iiic appeared in the old iiic k thread at one point .

I am, or should say, was the owner of the repainted black IIIc Tom mentioned a little earlier in this thread. When I first bought it, it came with a pretty ugly looking Summar mounted to it. As Tom also mentioned, the paint job on it was done very well, I have never seen an actual Leica paint job up close, so I have nothing to compare it against, but the texture on it was perfectly smooth. As for the lens enasniearth mentions, it was similar to the one Mr. Sweeney mentions in this thread: http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?p=1147990, right down to there being the additional serial number properly engraved on the bottom of the lens unit.

I must say, it was a beautiful camera, and as I waited for the buyer to pay these last few days, I secretly hoped they didn't, because I really would rather have kept it. The problem is, LTM's just aren't me. I envy all of you who jive with them, but for me, M cameras are what work. So in the end I sold that beautiful camera, the lens, and some other unused odds and ends, to raise some money to pick up a nice 35mm to go with my recently purchased (2 days ago) M4-2. As for the J-3 with possible Zeiss glass, I had no idea it would go for as much as it did.

By the way, if you want to see the camera in question, I have a set on my flickr here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/72388369@N00/sets/72157624912637380/. Feel free to take a peek if you wish, in the long run I will just end up getting rid of those to, I don't think I could bear to see them in the future, they might make me feel :(

LeicaTom

09-23-2010, 16:33

I am, or should say, was the owner of the repainted black IIIc Tom mentioned a little earlier in this thread. When I first bought it, it came with a pretty ugly looking Summar mounted to it. As Tom also mentioned, the paint job on it was done very well, I have never seen an actual Leica paint job up close, so I have nothing to compare it against, but the texture on it was perfectly smooth. As for the lens enasniearth mentions, it was similar to the one Mr. Sweeney mentions in this thread: http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?p=1147990, right down to there being the additional serial number properly engraved on the bottom of the lens unit.

I must say, it was a beautiful camera, and as I waited for the buyer to pay these last few days, I secretly hoped they didn't, because I really would rather have kept it. The problem is, LTM's just aren't me. I envy all of you who jive with them, but for me, M cameras are what work. So in the end I sold that beautiful camera, the lens, and some other unused odds and ends, to raise some money to pick up a nice 35mm to go with my recently purchased (2 days ago) M4-2. As for the J-3 with possible Zeiss glass, I had no idea it would go for as much as it did.

By the way, if you want to see the camera in question, I have a set on my flickr here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/72388369@N00/sets/72157624912637380/. Feel free to take a peek if you wish, in the long run I will just end up getting rid of those to, I don't think I could bear to see them in the future, they might make me feel :(

Yes, Dave that was a HOTT looking camera......nice paintjob too, whoever did it finished it in respect to the original Grey paint while all the CORRECT parts where painted black in place of the Grey.

You didn't notice any initials marked in the base plate did you? It may have been a George Carr camera, but no matter who did it, it camera out looking good :)

I just re-accquired my ole' 1945 Leica IIIC K (THE FIRST GREY CAMERA I EVER OWNED) it's pretty much like getting an old girlfriend back or something in that order......it will be one of the few Grey IIIC K cameras in the world that are being USED BY SOMEONE daliy to take pictures.

I will post photos soon..........

Thanks Dave for stopping on by here and sharing your ole' camera with us :D

Tom

Jaans

09-23-2010, 23:19

oHH wait this was the one in the Netherlands.........

http://img.iwascoding.com/1/2010/09/05/B0/C92B9F0DC9D8439CB8045872C139E62D.jpg

http://cgi.ebay.com/LEICA-ORIGINAL-WWII-IIIC-K-GREY-VERY-RARE-WORKS-PERFECT-/110582666548?pt=Film_Cameras&hash=item19bf3d9534

a "late" 1943 "K" that was originally from a stateside collection and sold on evilbay for like $1,400 and then was resold for $2,300

My opinion?

Nice camera, had the vulcanite touched up /repainted slightly, very pretty "patina" like 70% paint, the shutter K looks "dry" so there may have been material issues, overall a kool camera ~ (I just arranged a deal for one in about the same condition with the original matching numbers lens).

This camera was a deal at $1,400 (first sale) but resold at $2,300? ~ it's pretty pricey for it's lensless condition.......always one of my driving factors is that the camera STILL has it's original lens, you can't always find them that way, but when you do, it's wise advice to keep the combo together instead of breaking up history ;)

Enjoy!

Tom

Yes, you nailed it, thats the camera sale that I was referring to Tom. Thanks for tracking that down - I couldn't find it.

I perceived this camera to be quite attractive especially with the K on the shutter. Out of my budget though!

I am starting to think that there must be a lot of these cameras in Japan with collectors because I had a friend who went over to Japan a few months ago and said that he saw three in one famous shop! I think that there were two greys and one chrome. I guess that expression that goes most of the collectible leicas reside in Japan must ring true to a degree? Would you agree that a lot of K's must have made their way to Japan into the hands of collectors?

LeicaTom

09-23-2010, 23:32

Yes, you nailed it, thats the camera sale that I was referring to Tom. Thanks for tracking that down - I couldn't find it.

I perceived this camera to be quite attractive especially with the K on the shutter. Out of my budget though!

I am starting to think that there must be a lot of these cameras in Japan with collectors because I had a friend who went over to Japan a few months ago and said that he saw three in one famous shop! I think that there were two greys and one chrome. I guess that expression that goes most of the collectible leicas reside in Japan must ring true to a degree? Would you agree that a lot of K's must have made their way to Japan into the hands of collectors?

Ohh I think there's definitely some there, BUT I would say that the most cameras that survived made it back HERE to the USA after WW2 as War Trophy's ~ and many are STILL here.

And as for the serious collections, Germany's got some big "wartime" collections and also Italy, while I'm see gear there and I know a few of these wealthy collectors personally and they prefer the military stamped versions to the unmarked civilian/US Army versions etc.

Tom

Jaans

09-24-2010, 18:52

Ohh I think there's definitely some there, BUT I would say that the most cameras that survived made it back HERE to the USA after WW2 as War Trophy's ~ and many are STILL here.

And as for the serious collections, Germany's got some big "wartime" collections and also Italy, while I'm see gear there and I know a few of these wealthy collectors personally and they prefer the military stamped versions to the unmarked civilian/US Army versions etc.

Tom

It would be interesting to ascertain just how many Leica IIICK's there are left around the world. I'm sure that some people inherited there parents and grandparents cameras and perhaps don't realize what they have and its value.

Tom - have you ever hit the jackpot so to speak and found one of these most desirable cameras in a shop, market or the hands of a widow who received it from her husband who served in the war? Or did you track down your current collection of K's from other collectors? I'm guessing that the latter option would be more expensive to procure the camera.

cheers

LeicaTom

09-25-2010, 00:14

It would be interesting to ascertain just how many Leica IIICK's there are left around the world. I'm sure that some people inherited there parents and grandparents cameras and perhaps don't realize what they have and its value.

Tom - have you ever hit the jackpot so to speak and found one of these most desirable cameras in a shop, market or the hands of a widow who received it from her husband who served in the war? Or did you track down your current collection of K's from other collectors? I'm guessing that the latter option would be more expensive to procure the camera.

cheers

Hello Jaans!

How many are left? Well the Doctor and I have recorded maybe 600 to 800? I know Jim Lager has an ongoing list as well, I'd say 1,500 to 1,800 are left, or roughly half of the original production, these cameras had a demand/collectiblity since day one and were the going "THING" next to Luger pistol's on the pre 1955 "Black Market" list in Europe :)

As for a Jackpot....I consider myself very lucky with these cameras.

All (3) of my Grey IIIC K cameras have very colorful documented provenance's

(1) The 1943 was owned by a Sergeant who was in a forward element of the 9th Armored Division as they crossed the Rhine River on the Ludendorf Bridge at Remagen in March 1945 ~ he brought this camera and a 1938 Contax and a 1939 Rolleiflex back with him from Germany and he got a job working as a Photographer for the Black Star Agency in NYC and was published in LIFE magazine ~ (I have/own all three cameras) ~ I bought the cameras from New York and the Sergeant's family.

(2) One of my 1945 IIIC K Grey's was owned by a Japanese American US Army CIC 2nd Lieutenant who was in the European Theater of Operations in June/July 1945 when the camera was issued to him, he in turn gave the camera as a present to a Danish woman who was working as a Counter Intelligence Corps interrogator, interrogating captured German Officer's ~ shortly thereafter they married and returned to the states, he retired a US Army Colonel and when he passed away his wife sold the camera to a very well known Leica and collectible's camera shop, where I bought the camera last year.

(3) The last camera is rather special and I just re-acquired it after about 3 years, it's pretty much the camera that got me all started into this research of IIIC K's and it has had a very interesting past 5 years.......

Originally it was issued to a US Army Signal Corps Officer of the rank of Major, he most certainly photographed the Death Camps at Dachau and the
devastated landscapes of Central Europe, during late May 1945 and into the year of 1946, shooting work for the Army and for his personal use.....unfortunately none of this photography has survived, but the camera's rich history get's better and better as it would turn out to be one of the most photographed/studied and X-rayed Leica IIIC K's ever!

About (I think it was almost 6 years ago) this man passed away and this man's brother sold the camera to my fellow colleague and Leica historian/researcher Dr. Barnard of San Francisco, the good Doctor has documented this camera in photos and also with X-rays placing all the various groups of ball bearings and tech interests of the IIIC K model (this information will someday be published or displayed on a online Museum website ~ stay tuned!)
About 3 years ago I acquired this camera (as my FIRST Leica IIIC K) that I ever owned and I enjoyed it for about 6 months, until I had found another camera (the 1943) and then the camera returned to San Francisco.

Just recently I have had the desire/urge to have that Grey paint in my hands again as a "USER" camera and this camera is IT! ~ once again going to be taking photos of pretty pinup girls here in sunny Florida. :D

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v477/koolgirliestuff/More%20Leica%20Photos/1044net3.jpg?t=1285403831

"The White Glove Theatment"

One of my lovely PiNuP's Candice Marie "poses" with the San Fran Camera #3905XX K back in 2007

It is very difficult to find these cameras at all anymore and I can consider myself very fortunate to have found three of these cameras, all matching numbers bodies and lenses as well as being 100% ready to load and shoot film, just getting them all together and CLA'd and functioning has been a challenge , but for me they still do what they were meant to do "take pictures" and they also still pose as collectibles as well, each camera is interesting and I wish they could talk....what a complex dramatic story they would tell.

I think any IIIC K owner I know enjoy's their cameras, weither they still take pictures (rarely) with them, or if they fondle them in some mysterious dimly lite room late at night over a cup of coffee or a brandy.......hahahahahaha!!!! ~ welcome to the madness :)

Enjoy!

Tom

Jaans

09-25-2010, 04:05

Hello Jaans!

How many are left? Well the Doctor and I have recorded maybe 600 to 800? I know Jim Lager has an ongoing list as well, I'd say 1,500 to 1,800 are left, or roughly half of the original production, these cameras had a demand/collectiblity since day one and were the going "THING" next to Luger pistol's on the pre 1955 "Black Market" list in Europe :)

As for a Jackpot....I consider myself very lucky with these cameras.

All (3) of my Grey IIIC K cameras have very colorful documented provenance's

(1) The 1943 was owned by a Sergeant who was in a forward element of the 9th Armored Division as they crossed the Rhine River on the Ludendorf Bridge at Remagen in March 1945 ~ he brought this camera and a 1938 Contax and a 1939 Rolleiflex back with him from Germany and he got a job working as a Photographer for the Black Star Agency in NYC and was published in LIFE magazine ~ (I have/own all three cameras) ~ I bought the cameras from New York and the Sergeant's family.

(2) One of my 1945 IIIC K Grey's was owned by a Japanese American US Army CIC 2nd Lieutenant who was in the European Theater of Operations in June/July 1945 when the camera was issued to him, he in turn gave the camera as a present to a Danish woman who was working as a Counter Intelligence Corps interrogator, interrogating captured German Officer's ~ shortly thereafter they married and returned to the states, he retired a US Army Colonel and when he passed away his wife sold the camera to a very well known Leica and collectible's camera shop, where I bought the camera last year.

(3) The last camera is rather special and I just re-acquired it after about 3 years, it's pretty much the camera that got me all started into this research of IIIC K's and it has had a very interesting past 5 years.......

Originally it was issued to a US Army Signal Corps Officer of the rank of Major, he most certainly photographed the Death Camps at Dachau and the
devastated landscapes of Central Europe, during late May 1945 and into the year of 1946, shooting work for the Army and for his personal use.....unfortunately none of this photography has survived, but the camera's rich history get's better and better as it would turn out to be one of the most photographed/studied and X-rayed Leica IIIC K's ever!

About (I think it was almost 6 years ago) this man passed away and this man's brother sold the camera to my fellow colleague and Leica historian/researcher Dr. Barnard of San Francisco, the good Doctor has documented this camera in photos and also with X-rays placing all the various groups of ball bearings and tech interests of the IIIC K model (this information will someday be published or displayed on a online Museum website ~ stay tuned!)
About 3 years ago I acquired this camera (as my FIRST Leica IIIC K) that I ever owned and I enjoyed it for about 6 months, until I had found another camera (the 1943) and then the camera returned to San Francisco.

Just recently I have had the desire/urge to have that Grey paint in my hands again as a "USER" camera and this camera is IT! ~ once again going to be taking photos of pretty pinup girls here in sunny Florida. :D

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v477/koolgirliestuff/More%20Leica%20Photos/1044net3.jpg?t=1285403831

"The White Glove Theatment"

One of my lovely PiNuP's Candice Marie "poses" with the San Fran Camera #3905XX K back in 2007

It is very difficult to find these cameras at all anymore and I can consider myself very fortunate to have found three of these cameras, all matching numbers bodies and lenses as well as being 100% ready to load and shoot film, just getting them all together and CLA'd and functioning has been a challenge , but for me they still do what they were meant to do "take pictures" and they also still pose as collectibles as well, each camera is interesting and I wish they could talk....what a complex dramatic story they would tell.

I think any IIIC K owner I know enjoy's their cameras, weither they still take pictures (rarely) with them, or if they fondle them in some mysterious dimly lite room late at night over a cup of coffee or a brandy.......hahahahahaha!!!! ~ welcome to the madness :)

Enjoy!

Tom

Hey Tom,

Thanks for that fascinating and insightful look into the cameras history and your own personal collection.

It is great that you are using your cameras as well, because I'm sure there are many who would just let their cameras sit as display artifacts.

Thanks again

LeicaTom

09-26-2010, 16:06

Ahhh red leather????? That will catch people's eyes that's for sure.......

Didn't you like the Black Lizard?????

http://www.cameraleather.com/leica_s/3C_blkliz01.jpg

I really like that........all my IIIC K's have original coverings, just this newest chrome one has the "sharkskin" and I'm not going to remove that, I suppose the next Ball-Bearing "Stepper" I buy I WILL put the Black Lizard skin on it and a "wartime" Sonnar for kicks! :)

.....Green covering looks really nice too :)

http://www.cameraleather.com/leica_s/3C_comp_g1.jpg

I mean there's so many early IIIC's out there which have NO/ 0% vulcanite, so why not put a POSH looking covering onto it?

Johan, what's the surprise deal you worked out this past weeekend???
?
Write me off the board first, ok?????

Tom

Johan,

http://i.ebayimg.com/17/!B1uB6vQ!mk~$(KGrHqIOKjIE)M0k!FEeBMfoFNVdjw~~_12.J PG

That Red Lizard looks pretty nice afterall......maybe you have something there, hahahaha ~ #3794xx would look very good like this, just add a "wartime" Elmar 50mm and your all set :D

Tom

LeicaTom

09-26-2010, 20:37

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v477/koolgirliestuff/More%20Leica%20Photos/327a.jpg?t=1285561672

"The Clicker"

Always the best prop the Leica IIIC.......Leda Locke plays with one of my 45' Chrome "K" bodies/w HC Nikkor f2/50, during the Fetishcon in Tampa :)

Enjoy!

Tom

buzzardkid

09-27-2010, 11:49

Boy, I sure hope that IIIc I'm getting from you is a chick magnet like this one here ^^

:D:D:D

The red skin on that IIIc is a bit too bright maybe, I'm still cracking my nut on what to put on that camera... :confused:

Last time it took me like forever to decide on the granite goat kid skin that is on my IIIa now, and still I doubt it every now and then. Took CameraLeather forever to get it in the mail as well... would not want that to happen again.

BTW, you've got funds!

john neal

09-27-2010, 23:02

Johan,

I know what you mean about the granite kid - i have a IIIc with that. It took months to arrive, and after 2 years, I still can't decide if I like it. I actually had the original body shell revulcanited by Peter at CRR, so I now have a choice of "clothes" for that camera. The vulcanite has my vote for now.

When I finally get my grey IIIcK rebuilt, it will have vulcanite for sure - original 1944 pattern, but sprayed RLM just like the original. If I can ever get a few hours, this camera is so close to going back together......

buzzardkid

09-28-2010, 04:42

Hi John,

I'm quite intrigued by what you write. I had questions but posted them to this thread (http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?p=1430480#post1430480), the IIIc K thread!

buzzardkid

09-28-2010, 04:45

Tom,

gotta say: I'm also quite intrigued by the stuffed bunny toy on the bed stand in the Leda Locke shot you posted.
:D:D:D
What's the story?

LeicaTom

10-01-2010, 04:42

Tom,

gotta say: I'm also quite intrigued by the stuffed bunny toy on the bed stand in the Leda Locke shot you posted.
:D:D:D
What's the story?

Hahahahaha!

As I remember the stuffed bunny was an old toy of Leda's that was somehow recuited to be a background prop........yes quite odd, but funny even Elmer Batters shot some of his Fetish work with stuffed animals as well :)

Tom

LeicaTom

10-01-2010, 04:53

Here's a photo of the latest "Wartime" era lens I've acquired just yesterday.....

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v477/koolgirliestuff/More%20Leica%20Photos/331.jpg?t=1285936681

....A 1945 JSK Xenon f1.5/50mm in LTM, mounted here on my 1945 Leica IIIC K Grey paint. (US Army Camera)

It's a very interesting and equally as rare lens, that was produced only for a very short time towards the end of WW2.
(It really looks good together with the Grey paint of this camera and it was by far the largest (widest) of the three fastest 50mm Rangefinder lenses being made in the world at that time).
*CZJ Sonnar T f1.5/50 - Leitz Xenon f1.5/50 and this Jos. Schneider Kreuznach Xenon f1.5/50 lens*

Overall the glass is really nice, there's some slight haze and rim fungus, but it all looks restorable, it's going off to Don Goldberg/DAG shortly to be CLA'd.

When the lens is back, I'll be shooting an extensive TEST SHOOT with my M8 in Digital and also Color and Blk N Wht film with my IIIC K Grey "user", I'll be opening a brand new thread just on the subject of this unique and very rare "wartime" Leica Thread Mount lens.

Stay Tuned!

Tom

buzzardkid

10-01-2010, 12:35

Tom,

that is one intriguing lens! I really can't wait to see some shots with that. Schneider has quite a reputation on lenses, I'm pretty sure those shots will be spectacular.

My CZJ Sonnar T f4.0/135 came today, I started a thread on it, looking for some production figures on those wartime Sonnar telelenses. Will post shots from that soon!