Dear Experts-Saw an older camera marked Leica (I'm a Camera Moron-Novice)that looked to be 30's-40's-it felt very heavy and well made.What was odd about the Piece is that it had a Mahogany and Brass Body-a highly unlikely combination of materials for a Camera-given wear,usage,etc.Was such a Model ever made,custom ordered,an Anniversary Factory Repro,or completely bogus?Thanks for any help. bosko@rocketmail.com

-- John Boskovich (bosko@rocketmail.com), March 16, 2002

Answers

Sounds like a Russian copy.

-- Andrew Schank (aschank@flash.net), March 16, 2002.

This is a Russian copy. There are plenty of them offered for sale on eBay. Occasionally someone offers one of these obvious fakes as a real Leica. Once I emailed a seller to tell him a camera being offered for sale was a Russian camera, but he didn't respond. I think the people who offer these cameras for sale usually know (or suspect) they are counterfeits.

Answer: completely bogus. Leica never made mohagony cameras, and all of their brass cameras were painted black over the brass. The engraving and workmanship on these cameras is usually very crude compared to a genuine Leica. It may be worth $ 60 if that. No more.

-- Eliot (erosen@lij.edu), March 16, 2002.

Yes, that's right.

From Steve Gandy's indispensible cameraquest site.

http://www.cameraquest.com/fakerusk.htm

-- Mani Sitaraman (bindumani@pacific.net.sg), March 16, 2002.