[Leica] Bogus M2-R Auction

[gregj.lorenzo at shaw.ca (GREG LORENZO)]

Hi Frank,

Here is the result from querying Leica's Serial Number database for the 
camera in question (Serial No. 1164803):

"Serial number  1164803 
Product   Leica M2" 

Here is the result from querying the same database for a personally known 
M2-R:

"Serial number  1248695 
Product   Leica M2R"

The Ebay ad in question referred to a 1966 manufacture date for this "M2-R" 
camera. (The date of the camera's manufacture is correct at least.) However, 
Leica did not commence making and selling the 2000 M2-R's that were made in 
total until 1969. From the Cameraquest website Serial Number listing:

"Date Camera Starting Ending Batch 
 
8/28/69 M2-R 1248201 1250200 2000"

Page 207 of Volume 1 of Jim Lager's Leica Illustrated History agrees with 
both Leica and Cameraquest with repect to Serial Number series and with 
Cameraquest with regard to maufacture date. 

The Seller withdrew the ad very quickly (at least) after I emailed them on 
it.

I would certainly not be prepared to do business with them, others can draw 
their own conclusion.

Regards,

Greg


----- Original Message -----
From: Frank Dernie <Frank.Dernie@btinternet.com>
Date: Monday, February 20, 2006 1:09 pm
Subject: Re: [Leica] Bogus M2-R Auction

> The Classic Camera is a pretty serious Leica collectors 
> dealership. I  
> would be very surprised if they mis-represented an item for sale,  
> particularly since they are not hiding behind a non recognisable 
> ebay  
> name.
> I did buty a mis-represented camera once on ebay from an 
> apparently  
> private individual which turned out to be Ffordes, a dealer I had  
> hitherto considered to be reputable and from whom I had bought 
> other  
> cameras and lenses directly.
> Frank
> 
> On 20 Feb, 2006, at 17:18, GREG LORENZO wrote:
> 
> > The Classic Camera - The Leica Shop in London's West End.
> >
> > Here is the item description verbatim from that Ebay Auction.
> >
> > I really can't understand posting this kind of nonsense:
> >
> > "Leica M2R Black Paint with Three Limited Edition B+W Prints.
> >
> > This camera has an interesting history. It dates from 1966, and  
> > soon after was expertly painted black (by the US Military we  
> > understand) and used by War Photographer Fidel Peralle in 
> Vietnam  
> > in the late '60s/early '70s. In the year 2000, Peralle returned 
> to  
> > Vietnam and shot a new series of pictures with his old black 
> paint  
> > M2-R - three of which are included here in limited edition 
> prints.  
> > Given its somewhat turbulent past, the camera is in remarkably 
> good  
> > condition - signs of average/normal use as one would expect from 
> 
> > something of this vintage. The black paint is clean and there 
> are  
> > no signs of brassing at edges or corners. There are a few minor  
> > surface marks on the top plate, and tiny pin-head sized ding 
> above  
> > the Leica scripted logo. Overall, condition is a very good Exc+ -
>  
> > maybe Exc++ - depending on how rigorous you want to be. The 
> camera  
> > is in full working order. The shutter is working on all speeds 
> and  
> > appears accurate, though absolute accuracy not guaranteed. The rang
> > efinder is working correctly and is clear and easy to focus.  
> > Viewfinder magnification is 0.85x. There are frames for 50mm and 
> 
> > 90mm lenses only - for some reason the original owner had the 
> 35mm  
> > brightline frame taken out. The camera comes with original  
> > instructions and the three limited edition A4 size black and 
> white  
> > prints previously mentioned."
> >
> > Regards,
> >
> >
> > Greg
> >
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > Leica Users Group.
> > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
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>