strange working Attrape M3

[photovdz]

Hello all,

besides using a lot of various rf cameras (from olympus to leica, with a large stop at contaxes... and retinas...), I like to find bizarre cameras...

And this seems to be one...

A leica M3 with an A serial number and what looks like an unbroken L seal... but a fully working one... bought on ebay germany, the seller was the son of the late owner (an engineer) and was very angry that I dare to ask if the camera was functionnal (didn't even know what an attrape was). And indeed the camera is functionnal (fully functionnal including the flash synch). The seller told me the story of his late father coming back from a long business stay in Canada with a Leica and some lenses... and for the low price I paid it's not a "fake"

here are the picture of the thing... does anyone know something about that ?

Stephan

[colyn]

Attrape's were original Leica body shells that were made as store displays with nothing inside. However some were either sent to Leitz or other repairman and had the mechanism installed.

I once had one but sold it years ago..

[photovdz]

strange way to buy your leica... first the shell, then the content ;-)

[Tom A]

Most of Attrappen were assembled on regular M's. I.e -you bought an Attrappe and salvaged top plate/baseplate and exterior parts and put them on a similar model M with scratched, dented or cannibalized chassi.
There is usually nothing wrong with these cameras, if they were assembled properly, but often the donor chassi and interior parts came from well used or severely beaten up cameras and with the new controls and top/base plate, they can look deceptivly clean and "mintish".
On some Attrappen, things like film guide rails and film gates were either not finished off or just not there so a donor chassi was used.
The L seal means nothing as it can be easily faked and often is.

[photovdz]

it is not clean and mintish ;-) but no sign of abuse... anyway I'll use it without problems... the modification seems to have been made very early...

Thanks for the information

[photovdz]

only little "problem" if it is one... the shutter makes a little noise after shutting on slow speed... is it normal ? My other M3 (741xxx) does not make that noise but it's a DS and not a SS...

Is there a place somewhere inside to find the original serial number of the donor body ?

[BillBlackwell]

Originally Posted by photovdz

only little "problem" if it is one... the shutter makes a little noise after shutting on slow speed... is it normal ? My other M3 (741xxx) does not make that noise but it's a DS and not a SS...

Is there a place somewhere inside to find the original serial number of the donor body ?

Not exactly sure what you mean about the shutter, but there is a quiet wind-down buzz after the firing and completion of a show speed (below 15th of a second), which is normal for all M cameras (excepting the M5 and CL, which sound different). If your DS doesn't do this then it's time for a CLA. Also at a 15th and a 30th there should be a slight "spring bounce" after firing.

The original "L" seal was raised. This one does not look like that to me. As Tom indicated, a carved "L" seal can easily be faked.

Older M3s had the matching serial number engraved on the chassis under the film-guide plate. You might take a look there. However, the matching serial number engraving was discontinued in around 1960.

[photovdz]

the film guide plate ? film pressure plate ?


finally abou the noise, it is normal... and my other M3 does it too but so silently...

[BillBlackwell]

Originally Posted by photovdz

the film guide plate? film pressure plate? ...

Remove the baseplate.

There is a film loading guide there. Remove the three or four screws and it will come off. If it is an older chassis, there will be a serial number that originally matched the top cover.

[photovdz]

ok... but it seems it had never been opened;..

[BillBlackwell]

Originally Posted by photovdz

ok... but it seems it had never been opened;..

If the camera has ever had a CLA, it has been opened. Keep in mind - if you do remove this plate, when putting it back on do not over tighten the screws. A gentle tightening is sufficient.

[photovdz]

no serial number underneath...
any way it's a nice shooter...