A curious Leica fake...

"a" and "Z" are German: Auf and Zu. So as this is most likely not a fake but a completely odd camera, this may be one clue?

Best regards,
Juhani

To Lenny:
- the metal ring behind the lensplate is completed by a paper shim (5 on the Fed 1d showed!).
- both baseplates have the same dimensions.
- I think that the lens was home adapted. But the body certainly was made for a M39 lens.
- you are right, there is 1/2mm less between VF/RF on the backside.

To Juhani:
This camera is odd. And it was used (traces of film on the cage), so it worked. Certainly it was made by a factory: I cannot think that a workshop would be able of that...

Thanks for your comments!

Jacques.

Leicashop handles Leica copies on a dayly basis, like on their auction last weekend. The fact that they assume it's russian made could be because they might not be so familiar with russian cams.

Good that the shutter box has only 4 screw-holes on the frontside (there is another hole below the lens-mount). This 4 visible screws on the frontside should help to find the origin. But if it was a prototype we might never know. Still fantastic to own this cam and I assume it wasn't so expensive, worth every Cent for sure.

quote:

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Originally posted by Lenny

Leicashop handles Leica copies on a dayly basis, like on their auction last weekend. The fact that they assume it's russian made could be because they might not be so familiar with russian cams.

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And by the lens, as it is so obvious fake from a Russian lens

Best regards,
Juhani

The lock and short spring reminds the Ucaflex, a direct descendant of the Neuca.

I immediatly did note the top rangefinder case as smaller than FEDs,
so the distance betwwen oculars.

The sensor rangefinder pin the bottom lock and perhaps the oculars shape (smaller) are typically from Neuca . that took different shapes along its small production.

Original lenses came from ROW, Zeiss Jena or Schneider, or what they find.

Much strange are the different shutter lock nuts?

Regards
LP

Seems Luiz is right.

This Neuca-Prototype from 1946 seems to be similar. This cam was in the Westlicht auction #23, lot 379, sold for 6800 euro (there are more pictures on leicashop.com).





http://www.ussrphoto.com/UserContent/25112014_Neuca_Proto_1946.jpg


Then there was another Neuca-Prototype from 1948. This cam was in the Westlicht auction #12, lot 332.



http://www.ussrphoto.com/UserContent/25112014_Neuca_Proto_1948.jpg


Could be Jacques cam is between both cams pictured above. What a find!!!

I feel that Luiz is certainly right. So, this camera could be a Neuca prototype... When I see the back of the shutter box of the Ucaflex (on Luiz's site), all seem the same: the screws, the shape of the box, the absence of rims to strengthen all that...

Two other details:
- the bottom screw, under the lens, which tightens the shutter box, is absent. But it screws from the outside contrarily to the Leicas' and early Feds' on which it screws from the inside.
- the three screws under the rewind button are present, like on early Feds. But 2 screws (out of 3) are towards the outside (1 on Leicas and Feds).

In fact, all is the sams and all is different... And delighted to get this camera.

Many thanks to you, Luiz and Lenny.
I post other photos if I can.

Amitiйs. Jacques.

quote:

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Originally posted by Jacques M.


In fact, all is the same and all is different... And delighted to get this camera.

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Thank you so much Jacques for posting all these pictures so I could see this wonderful Neuca technic. Too bad they didn't produce more of them. I'm sure you are very very happy.

Seems this prototype had a blank top either so it was destined to get faked by an uninformed fool.

As for the weight: 391g vs 415g for the Fed 1 to which the camera was compared (with their spools).
Both are remounted. I could see that the screws are shorter on this "Neuca-Leica": two turns and it's tight...

If somebody has details about Neuca production, of course, I would be interested. Here is the link to Luiz's site towards the Uniflex/Neucaflex:
http://www.novacon.com.br/influest12.htm
The Neucaflex's shutter box is the same as on this camera.

Jacques.

Hello all
around 1975 I bought for a song a complete set of Udaflex with Xenar 2.8/50 a Xenagon 4.5/40, and two Tele-Xenars 100 and 200mm
All im perfect using conditions.

Around 2000 it appeared a second cвmera of the same second series (reversed Exakta bayonet lock) which the owner had completely dismantled ant put its parts on a bag.
Some parts desappeared.
New Gears were taken from Zenit E and the firing button was taken from a fountain pen! Identical to the original one!

I observed that screws were the same of Zenit which are the same from Zorki and FEDs.

To me there ar several "Lost Loops" among FEDs and Neucas

Mainly due the era in which they were produced 1946/1947.
As I know Neuca were prohibited to be produced due Leits Patent infringements

Regards

Now Leica re introduces na all mechanical film cвmera with no exposure meter

http://leicaphilia.com/leica-introduces-an-all-new-film-camera-the-leica-m-a/

Now Leica re introduces na all mechanical film cвmera with no exposure meter

http://leicaphilia.com/leica-introduces-an-all-new-film-camera-the-leica-m-a/
Go to Top of Page

quote:

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Originally posted by Jacques M.


If somebody has details about Neuca production, of course, I would be interested.

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I was surprised to see a Neuca rangefinder-cam with serial #1019 on novacon.com. Now I wonder if this is cam #19 or if they produced more than thousand of this model. That must have been in East-Germany at that time where Leica's patent rights were not valid. Somewhere else I read that only 100 were produced, so who knows. Not easy to get this info and even Leicashop couldn't recognize this Neuca, even they sold one in 2007 which must have the same technic under the baseplate.

How lucky Jacques is and good that this Neuca is in good hands.

Now that everyone knows how close this Neuca is to a Fed (it really seems that Fed is the mother) this cam is worth much more.

The Neucaflex prototype
at http://www.camerasdownunder.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=52&fullsize=1

see also at http://www.ebay.de/itm/Franz-Robert-Neubert-Neucaflex-Prototype-/251067428307



http://www.ussrphoto.com/UserContent/26112014_neucaflex.png

Thanks, Luiz. A pity that few of these cameras were made. In fact, each camera is almost a prototype...

Some last photos with cover removed.
http://www.ussrphoto.com/UserContent/27112014_DSCF1742.JPG


http://www.ussrphoto.com/UserContent/27112014_DSCF1743.JPG

On both photos, the Leica/Neuca is on the foreground.
Always many small differences...
The distance between the finders (3,8cm, axle to axle)is the same. It's just the house of the VF/RF which is a bit less large on the Neuca (4,8cm vs 5,1cm).

http://www.ussrphoto.com/UserContent/27112014_DSCF1731.JPG

The engraving on the winding button, smaller than Fed's.

http://www.ussrphoto.com/UserContent/27112014_DSCF1744.JPG

The three screws under the rewind button. The summit of the triangle is towards the left (towards the right on the early Feds and Leicas).

A last detail: the rewind lever, with its arrow shape and its curious screw.

http://www.ussrphoto.com/UserContent/27112014_DSCF1747.JPG

When opening the cover, I hoped an inscription or something... There was nothing, in fact!

Don't hesitate if you have questions...
Many thanks for your help!

Jacques.

quote:

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Originally posted by Jacques M.


The distance between the finders (3,8cm, axle to axle)is the same. It's just the house of the VF/RF which is a bit less large on the Neuca (4,8cm vs 5,1cm).

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Is it 3mm less on the rewind side or did they move the whole top more to the middle to gain more space for the bigger rewind knob?

Thanks again Jacques for all these photos.

Hello Luiz,

on your website you have 2 more photos of the silver Neuca from 1948 which was sold in the Westlicht auction in 2007. Did you own it before? Does it have the same technic under the baseplate as Jacques Neuca? Because the black Neuca from 1946 is more simple there.