Re: [Leica] Kriegsmarine U Boat Contax

[LEICAMAN56@aol.com]

Hi Marc,

Well, I went searching in the basement and found the catalog.  It was from 
the Cornwall auction of October 1990.  There are 4 photos of the camera and 
related parts.  The camera is a Contax I in black paint.  The camera takes 
photos in stereo while attached to the periscope.  The camera is engraved 
with the eagle and swastika over an upper case "M" which would indicate 
Kriegsmarine.  The engraved description is Stereo-Kamera II Nr. 3. The serial 
number engraved is 76199.  In the photo of the fitted wooden box, you can see 
the camera with mounting apparatus, telescope back, and five film cassettes.
Here is the description from the catalog:
(translated from German)
Special equipment consisting of a Contax I (without rangefinder and 
viewfinder windows) for the German Navy.  With built in stereo attachment! in 
an original gray painted wooden box.  Contents: Normal camera back; Special 
camera back with telescopic tube for viewing with a clear glass screen with 
scale, replacement ocular; 4 daylight cassettes in 5 original bakelite 
holders numbered 1-5.  Extra long measuring device and intermediate mounting 
piece.
The description continues in English:
"Our research resulted in the fact that this camera was used in a U Boat to 
photograph enemy ships.
This camera was certainly built in a German U Boat and was on or very near 
the periscope.
The captain could, after seeing a ship, take a picture with the Stereo-Contax 
using the long sight on the special camera back.  The pictures were then used 
to identify the ship or needed as a document after it was hit with a torpedo.
An important part of this camera set is an original Carl Zeiss 
"Auswerte-Gerate" (evaluating instrument) with which the negatives could be 
seen in 3 D and evaluated.  This instrument was also mounted in the 
submarine. 
Both camera and evaluating instrument bear the German swastika and the "M" 
engraving for the German Navy.
According to recent research this is the last known Contax I made!
This is probably the last known example left in the world."
The estimated auction price was DM 10,000.  I don't know what the actual 
knocked down price was.

Bill Rosauer