British Armed Forces Leicas

Hi all,

I noticed these two cameras on DVDTechnik:


http://www.dvdtechcameras.com/cameras/leica/11/11.htm
http://www.dvdtechcameras.com/cameras/leica/9/9.htm


I knew about Reid and Sigrist making Leica copies, but I didn't know about actual Leicas being used by British armed forces. Does anybody have any more information?

Cheers,

Laurence.

Hello Laurence

I think both "Leica's" are fakes made from FED's (1b).

Best wishes - Guido

IMHO
http://www.dvdtechcameras.com/cameras/leica/11/11.htm - Zorki
http://www.dvdtechcameras.com/cameras/leica/9/9.htm - FED

Yes definitely fake - the bezel around the viewfinder is the incorrect shape. Trying to pass it off as a Leica iiia. http://www.pastimage.com/#/ww2-cameras/4555114877 makes interesting reading re. British army cameras.

Yes, the camera:
http://www.dvdtechcameras.com/cameras/leica/11/11.htm is made of Zorki. Some delails tells this is Zorki of mid series. The lens is Industar 22.

Hello Alfa2

The RF housing is from a FED-1b as far I don't need glasses. Ups ... I found my glasses on my own nose. ;-)

Best wishes - Guido

Hello Giudo

Yes, you are absolutely right, it comes from FED-1b.

Thanks for your remark.

During WW2 the British government appealed for people to hand in their Leicas and Contaxes for military use. Best prices would be paid for the cameras, which were urgently needed for reconnaisance work etc. Super Ikontas were also used, I believe some of the D day landing photos were taken with 6x6 Super Ikontas.

Reid made Leica III and Leica Standard copies, but too late to have been useful during WW2. Just the same for Kardon, on the US side that time. These cameras were really copies, not Leica fakes as those we have here.

Just to complete what Steve said, two photos of my Reid "periscope":





And about the Fed 1b cover, I wonder if it's a real one. I have seen too many Leica fakes, with that type of cover, to be persuaded. Note that Leica used that type of round cover only in 1932 for their Leica II. In 1933, the Leica III appeared and used a "cornered" cover for the slow speed mechanism. We find that cornered cover from the Fed 1c-s...

Amitiйs. Jacques.

quote:

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Originally posted by SteveA

During WW2 the British government appealed for people to hand in their Leicas and Contaxes for military use. Best prices would be paid for the cameras, which were urgently needed for reconnaisance work etc. Super Ikontas were also used, I believe some of the D day landing photos were taken with 6x6 Super Ikontas.

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Yes, not only Leicas but also Contax II or III (even though on the web you can find mainly Leicas). In fact I do have a Contax III which has been used by the Royal Navy, engraved Patt 8676.



Bought few years ago on ebay for as little as 40Ј (no lens and no case). I'm really torn between the option of selling it (i had a quote of about 240Ј) or have it fully serviced (quoted 160-220Ј).

it is a big dilemma

KR

Marco