Which model of Leotax is this

David Murphy · 01-24-2007

I just bought this on eBay, but it has not been delivered yet:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...9853&rd=1&rd=1

I bought it mainly to mate its lens with my rare Leotax S - I will sell the body it comes with. I cannot identify which Leotax model the body is however. I've not seen one with only one flash jack in the limited available online information (my Leotax S has two-front mounted PC jacks). Can anyone help? Could the flash socket be a retrofit? Could the whole outfilt be (gasp!) a sophisticated fake!?

David Murphy · 01-24-2007

Further study of the site:

http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/iannorris/leica.htm

indicates it may be a Leotax D IV except it lacks the "Made in Occupied Japan" on the baseplate and it has a flash socket.

OldNick · 01-24-2007

David, I found the same site. Its sure looks like the D IV with an aftermarket flash socket added.

Jim N.

John Shriver · 01-25-2007

Ooh, you're making me jealous, Tokyo Optical LTM lens! Too expensive for my wallet, but it sure would be fun to have the set of them.

I've got a very complete Topcon SLR system, thus my soft spot for anything Tokyo Optical...

bob cole · 01-25-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by David Murphy

I just bought this on eBay, but it has not been delivered yet:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...9853&rd=1&rd=1

I bought it mainly to mate its lens with my rare Leotax S - I will sell the body it comes with. I cannot identify which Leotax model the body is however. I've not seen one with only one flash jack in the limited available online information (my Leotax S has two-front mounted PC jacks). Can anyone help? Could the flash socket be a retrofit? Could the whole outfilt be (gasp!) a sophisticated fake!?

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David, from the Ebay Jpegs and the serial number on your camera, I believe you have a Leotax D IV, made from 1950-1952, about 2,500-3000 output, with T, .1-20/B .30 .4 .60-500...with no flash synchronization, no screw in the center of the slow-speed dial, with Leotax logo in script and Showa Optical Works engraving...Serial numbers: 12,xxx - 15xxx, in the range of yours. Subsequent models with PC outlets show two outlets that look slightly different from the one PC outlet on the Ebay item... I can't find any Leotax with one PC outlet.

Therefore, while I could be mistaken, I believe the one PC outlet on yours was installed at some later point...

Both "Leica Copies," by HPR and "300 Leica Copies," by Pont/Princelle, show the D IV with no PC outlet...

Here are JPEGs of the D IV in HPR's reference and of the Leotax S that follows...Some of the language may be in German...

David Murphy · 01-25-2007

Thanks -- looks like I need to get a copy of that book if I keep accumulating these rare ones.

I have an alternate theory about the D-IV I bought: it may be a transitional model from the D-IV to the S. It lacks the "Made in Occupied Japan" markings (as does the S) and it has a PC jack on the front left side (as does the S, but with two). Otherwise it is D-IV like.

I will measure the exact position of the PC jack and compare it to my S to see if it is in the same location of one of the two S jacks.

In summary, my speculation is that this D-IV is a new discovered "species" of Leotax.

David Murphy · 01-26-2007

The Leotax D-IV arrived today with the Simlar lens which is indeed in exellent condtion as I had hoped. It now resides on my Leotax S. The D IV body is also in fairly decent shape too, with only a couple of problems typical of 1950's bottom-loaders. The metal work on the lens and camera exceed that of any Leica III series that I have owned -- first rate! In fact the V-IV seems better made than the S.

I'll have some test shots with the Simlar to post here shortly. Unfortunately I have to sell the body as my budget allows me to be only a one-Leotax-household :-) It's up on eBay now. I had no good idea of what value to set as the Buy-it-Now price so I am running the sale as a pure auction. If anyone has any idea of what a D IV might appraise to I'd be happy to hear from them.

I just realized (duhh!!) that the Simlar was made by the same company that became Topcon: The Tokyo Optical Company. This is a pretty impressive pedigree!