I just bought this camera at an open air market in Barcelona, Spain and would like to have more information about it. The body is gold toned and the lens is 1:3,5 F=50mm Leitz Elmar. The body number is 40238. Thankyou in advance for any information.

-- leon lewenstein (puppidoc@aol.com), June 10, 2001

Answers

According to Dennis Laney (Leica Collectors Guide) #40238 is a Leica I manufactured in 1930. I presume the gold tone has been added at some later unknown date.

-- Ken Shipman (kennyshipman@aol.com), June 10, 2001.

Additional info: whereas Laney lists the gold toned Luxus from serial 34803 to 34817 (only 15 cameras) Jim Lager indicates that 95 Luxus cameras (gold toned, lizard skin) were made from 1929 through 1931, with various serial numbers. Actually a Leica A (fixed lens) or C (interchangeable) it appears that most Luxus cameras were made with a fixed 3,5 Elmar. However, there were a number of 3rd party conversions, and even Leica converted standard Leica A & C cameras to the "Luxus look" after 1931. Unfortunately, Lager does not list any guidelines that may be used to determine whether you have a genuine Luxus or a copy or a later Leica conversion.

-- Ken Shipman (kennyshipman@aol.com), June 11, 2001.

It is extremely unlikely you have a Luxus. There are many more Soviet (and other) fakes out there than there are original gold plated cameras. The Luxus is so sought after that I would be very surprised at any unknown ones turning up. The fakes and copies show up everywhere primarily sold buy people claiming to have got it from their once rich relatives but "having no idea what it is".

Cheers,

-- John Collier (jbcollier@powersurfr.com), June 11, 2001.

I'm afraid John is probably right about the Soviet origins of the one you got. The forgers who made these had no qualms about engraving the Leitz Wetzler script or serial numbers that were in the ball park. These cameras show up on ebay from time to time. Some are represented as copies, others as "I have no idea what it is". You can usually tell from the feel of the camera and the precision/lack there of in the way things fit together if it is truly a Leica.

-- Andrew Schank (aschank@flash.net), June 11, 2001.

Look anything like this?gold Leica copy

-- Andrew Schank (aschank@flash.net), June 11, 2001.

Here's another variation Gold Leica copy #2

-- Andrew Schank (aschank@flash.net), June 11, 2001.

One thing I've only seen on the Russian cameras is the shutter release thread for a standard cable release. Also, usually the roller which couples the RF to the lens isn't a roller.

-- Michael Darnton (mdarnton@hotmail.com), June 13, 2001.