The Quest for the Last
It all began when I saw a nice Leica IIIa serial number 357220 in a online classifieds listing in Germany. Its price was very reasonable for a regular sample and it looked in really nice condition.
I had been searching for some time for an “interesting” Leica IIIa. The main targets had been the early black lacquered, the “Monte en Sarre” or even a war-time sample. The two first options, on top of their high price, concerned me a bit due to the amount of fakes in the market, especially nowadays.
So, even where there were some other potential buyers interested in it, they didn’t buy it, probably because even when it seemed in really good condition, it had a hand scratched code in the back that the seller related someway to an inventory.
During my initial research, its serial number looked interesting due to – according to the usual lists – the last batch of the IIIa was numbered between 356701 to 357200 (500 cameras) and dated between 1948 and 1950. The serial number was not only twenty numbers beyond the last documented in those lists, but also and even more interesting, it was in a set of numbers that appears as “Unknown and/or probably not used” in every source I checked. I saw some vague reference to cameras in that range including FF and even to Leica-72 but really unclear. With that information, I decided to buy it.
My thought was that it could be that the last batch had gone longer (more than the documented 500 units) so this could well be one of the last Leica IIIa’s – if not the last one!! That would date this camera between 1950-1951.
In parallel, I kindly asked the seller about the camera and he answered that the camera served in the Biology Department of Münster University for many years, and, it was bought by and old professor when it was replaced by newer technology, who then sold to my seller. That was great and it matched with the outstanding condition of the camera, as well as with the mark in the shutter button due to a release cable typical of scientific use. He also said that the code scratched at the back was the university inventory number. I contacted the university to double check its history but unfortunately they didn’t answer.
On top of that, I wrote Leica inquiring about any information that might have about the camera.
So, with all the information above, I opened a thread in the Leica International Users Forum about the camera explaining my theory about being one of the last IIIa’s (if not the last one). As a side note, if you want your camera or lens to be challenged, there is no better place in the net!
At the very first moment there was a bit of misunderstanding due to numbers below 400,000 are usually associated with pre-1946. That’s true for the IIIc, but not necessarily for the IIIa. Also the Blue Book, pg. 317, (that I don’t have) seems to assign the range 360,001 – 361,200 to the IIIa, and if so, those cameras could potentially be later than mine. Nowadays it seems clear (or at least as clear as it can be with Leica) that those serial numbers were assigned to the Leica IIId before 1946.
After the initial mess, it was mentioned (thanks Allan) that according to Band 1, the last batch for the IIIa with a high probability was in fact 356701-357186. That was great, but on the other hand it placed mine farther from the last regular batch, which in these cases is not necessarily good news. He also noticed (which I didn’t) that the serial number was engraved with “Nr.” Instead of “No.” and that change didn’t takeplace until mid-1951.
At this point, Jerzy (who I consider one of the world wide specialists in conversions) mentioned the 357109 (and close numbers) probably could have been Betriebskameras, used internally and later on refurbished and sold/given to employees. In parallel, I got an answer from Leica, asking me to send pictures of the camera. Interesting.
Almost two months later, I got the answer from Leica:
“LEICA IIIa # 357220 was shipped with note 48063 on November 29th. 1965 to a private person in Muenster Germany.”
At the beginning I really didn’t realize what it meant. But let’s put in context the date: the last regular batch of Leica IIIa dates between 1948 and 1950, the last regular batch of Leica IIIg (supposedly the last screw mount Leica) ended in 1960.
So in this case, twenty numbers more meant fifteen year later. Based on that, I politely asked to double check the information indicating the above and the answer was absolutely clear:
“Hello Augusto,
This sounded strange for me too, but the entry is correct. There are several LEICA IIIa bodies with similar S/N which have been delivered in that period. But this side of the delivery book is uncomplete, only a few cameras are listed on this side from 1965. All cameras are clearly indicated as LEICA IIIa bodies. Maybe Ernst Leitz GmbH had an overhang of this old camera and sold them to private persons in 1965. In my official list of serial-numbers the S/N 357201 – 358650 are listed without any remark or production date. Riddles in the dark and nobody will be able to find out. Hoping this notice will clear the situation. Enjoy your day.”
So targeting 1965, I located in one of the usual lists the date 5-Nov-65 associated to the 397xxx Betriebskameras. Anyway, my IIIa was documented 24 days later, so it was the time to include the delivery information in the forum with a new statement to be challenged: This could be not only one of the last (if not the last one) Leica IIIa but also one of the last (if not the true last one) Leica screw mount ever delivered from Leica.
Jerzy pointed to the Betriebskamera as an option as it is known that during the sixties, Leica cleared out the screw mount cameras used for internal purposes, so the only way of going forward was to get the internals professionally inspected.
After two months I sent the IIIa to Jerzy (together with other two cameras that I wanted to CLA) for getting inspected internally and as always, he produced a great professional report of the findings:
“After taking off the top cover and body shell this camera shows no sign or markings of being Betriebskamera. Regular SN is engraved in usual place, there are no other marks visible. (image 2)
As well the top cover does not show any unusual markings, many of top covers from regular production have some marks, like, possibly “14” which may be found here.
It was usual at Leitz that the cameras which have been re- built have camera SN and some other markings scratched on the frame where the arrows point. Nothing can be found here. (images 3 - 5)
image 4
image 5
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image 8
This camera has curtain brake which may be found on some IIIa from regular postwar production and many upgrades to IIIa sync.
Light shields, with velvet behind, are unusual for postwar IIIa, but were used in many upgrade to IIIa sync done after 1954. Bottom cover has engravings typical for cameras from early fifties. Film loading instructions are not attached to the bottom cover, as it was for postwar IIIa from regular production but applied on additional plate covering mechanical parts on the frame. (images 6 - 8)
While, as mentioned, cameras from regular production do not have this cover plate it was commonly used on the cameras upgraded after 1953.
Body shell with vulcanite is as well from the time after 1953. It has vulcanite structure used after this year (and until M4), it has as well additional pin at the bottom used to attach flash holding arm.
Similarly to above parts as well body shell is different as with cameras from regular production, but was commonly used for upgrades.
Shutter mechanism is from postwar IIIc. It may be recognized by the gear on the small second curtain drum. In postwar IIIc, which have different slow speeds gear than IIIa, it was used to reset slow speeds gear after the second shutter closed. It does not have any function here. Postwar IIIa have shutter without this gear, but many of upgraded cameras (starting from approx 1953) have similar shutter mounted. (images 9 & 10)
image 9
image 10
Note the different way of fixing the film spool pin/tripod mount on the left side. The way how it is fixed in 357220 and different shape is uncommon for regular production, but often used in upgraded cameras.
A bit intriguing is top cover. It has a shape and engravings (DRP) how it was used until approx. 1952. Top covers used for conver- sions after 1952/53 were shaped differently under the speed dial (to have enough space for flash contacts) and have engravings including” DBP”,” GmbH” or “GMBH”. These new covers were never in regular production, they were developed to be used in converting older models to flash sync models. They were used even if the upgraded camera did not receive flash sync.
Why the top cover is of old style, not used anymore after 1952/53? Well, if the camera was really assembled from spare parts this could be a valid explanation, old stock was used. Top covers have been pre-manufactured, chromed and with all engravings except SN. This was then engraved when top cover was needed for repair or upgrade.
As a summary: The camera has some parts which were not used in regular production, but were used from around 1953 to rebuild upgraded cameras. Upgrade program for screwmount cameras was ceased at Leitz as well around mid 60-ties. I do not believe that this camera was produced in 1950 and rebuild with newer parts later, it should have then order or serial number scratched on the frame. No evidence could be found that it was “Leitz-Eigentum” or “Betriebskamera” before, like it was with IIIc/IIIf that I have seen.”
Knowing Jerzy a bit, I saw him a bit down for not finding any evidence that it had been a Betriebskamera. So I wrote him saying that for me, it was so important what he found (small differences that could be present in upgrades), than what he hadn’t found: no evidence of been modified or upgraded. So upgrades in a non-upgraded camera. That meant that the camera had been created as it is currently: a genuine IIIa that has several parts and technology from a very much later period. A modern IIIa. Not refurbished or repurposed. That was the moment to come back again to the Forum and play hard, showing the evidences and asking for any other “documented” screw mount camera from a later date.
As expected, I got an answer (thanks Sabears) being challenged due to in the Hahne list (that unfortunately I also don’t have) that “there are at least two cameras in 1965, N. 357208 and N. 357220 and another, much later, camera that was delivered in 1970 (!!), it's N. 357182 (Leica 72)”.
That was the first time I saw my serial number in any list but it appeared as a Leica 72. Jerzy clarified that there was no evidence of any conversion in my camera so everything pointed in the direction of an eventual error in the Hahne list, given the confirmation that I previously got from Leica.
We checked the Hahne list and the last screw mount cameras according to that list were:
Cameras from 1965: 357208, 357220 (both listed as 18x24) despite of, according to the Leica records, they appear as IIIa even when the 357220 has a side note about a Leica 18x24
Cameras from 1967: six Leica IIIg appeared.
Cameras from 1970: 357186 (18x24), 948001 (IIIg)
According to Hahne list, there were some IIIf assembled/ produced in Midland, black dial are 610001-611000, red dial 684001-685000 and production was 1951-53 and last reporter found there was 353916 from 1953. And there is no reference to Leica assembled/produced in St.Ingbert (France), “Monte en Sarre” dated in 1949-51 (SNs 359xxx). As well as the IIIc/f former Betriebskameras, which serials were above 397608.
On top of that, Leica delivery records list four cameras delivered in 1963, and at least three of them are Leica IIIa.
So at this point it seemed clear that, even when my IIIa was not the last screw mount, it could still be the last Leica IIIa ever produced and one of the last screw mount Leica ever produced. What it started as an investigation about my camera, now had become a search for the last screw mount Leicas. So focusing on 1965, 1966 and 1970, I started to search the net for those last numbers.
From 1970:
Serial 357182 that appears as “Leica 72”. I located it: the Leica 72 type f serial number 357182 was sold by Westlicht (Leica Auction) on 26 June 2016 and, as stated in the auction, its original delivery date was 21 Oct 1970 and they attached a copy of the delivery record. So confirmed.
Serial 948001 that appears in the list as a IIIg. It has not surface yet.
From 1966:
Six Leica IIIg are listed (Serials: 988266, 988269, 988276, 988277, 988279 and 988280). None of them have surfaced yet.
From 1965:
Serial 357208, I found it as sold by “Joyería y Antigüedades Aznar” in Spain (antiguedades.es), and the pictures show that it’s clearly a IIIa. Leica records for dates its delivery 5 of July 1965. So this is earlier than mine. Pending on a internal inspection, it looks like very authentic (and this could match with the answer from Leica talking about some other IIIa). (images 11 & 12)
Serial 357220 As I found the rest, why don’t check my own serial number? I really don’t know how, but I located the serial: A camera with serial number 357220 was auctioned by “L&H Auction Co., Ltd.” on Spring 2016 but it was a L eica 72 and to me, it looked very genuine! (images 13 & 14)
So after all, Hahne was not wrong with this one, maybe just incomplete. Jerzy and I were in agreement that both cameras with serial 357220 are authentic and there is a duplication of the serial number. That’s probably the reason for the side note in the delivery records.
Three Leica IIIg are also listed: 988270, 988272 and 988273.
Note: All the Leica IIIg listed during these three years are part of regular batches from 1958 so their concrete delivery date is pending to be confirmed. Even so, those cameras could well have been produced as part of the regular batches and delivered later.
So, without a further investigation of the production books, we can conclude that there is a number between three and thirteen cameras (depending on the source) that were delivered in 1965 and 1970 (and potentially 1966).
Some of them are Leica IIIa, built under special order. A model that was introduced in 1935, what makes from it, the model with the longest production period in Leica history.
And yes, according to the delivery books and others sources, my camera 357220 from November 1965, is the last Leica IIIa ever produced, more than thirty years after this model was introduced. The camera could be the second last screw mount ever produced and be in a position between two and twelve last Leica screw mount ever delivered.
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ACKNOWLEGEMENTS:
L&H Auction Co., Ltd. (lhauction.com.hk)for the pictures of the Leica-72 serial 357220
Joyería y Antigüedades Aznar (antigue- dades.es) for the pictures of the serial 357208
The Leica International Forum users especially to William, Sabears, Allan McFall and Pierre for challenging me and provid- ing extremely valuable information.
The Leica Customer Service people that help those of us that love to track the life of our cameras and for an amazing century of writing photography history keeping their records
Jim Lager for the information provided, his deep knowledge and specially his friendly support and the collegiality that I found with him when sharing my thoughts and findings. Thank you.
Willy Hahne for his invaluable Band 1