Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2006/02/20
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Is this the shop in Pied Bull Yard? If so - a few years ago there was a lot of rather heated discussion in the German photo press about how serious this company was. Many wrote warnings against having any dealings with them - I don't know whether these were just isolated complaints (mostly about price and higher quality ratings than deserved) . The magazine didn't recommend the shop in their article about photo shops in London. Douglas GREG LORENZO wrote: >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 >>> >>> >>_______________________________________________ >>Leica Users Group. >>See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information >> >> >> > > >_______________________________________________ >Leica Users Group. >See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information > > >