Leica IC antique camera: A viewer told me " put it under the name Leica IC, under vintage film cameras or something. It's the first 35mm camera to have featured an interchangeable...

WisconsinPat Loc: Wisconsin

A viewer told me " put it under the name Leica IC, under vintage film cameras or something. It's the first 35mm camera to have featured an interchangeable lens system... pretty neat stuff. Also, put it for around 2,000 or a bit more."
I'd like to get at least $600 USD any interests
With lens $800

ebrunner Loc: New Jersey Shore

The first Leica camera with interchangeable was introduced in 1930. It was a Leica I model. It had a built in view finder; but no range finder yet. The lenses that were available in addition to the 50mm were a 35mm wide angle lens and a 135mm telephoto. Both of these lenses were Elmar lenses. If you have this camera it would help us identity it if you could post some pictures. I'm not certain that it was called a Leica I C (can't find that description in my book). It was called the Leica I Schraubgewinde which in German translates to "screw mount". You can do a serial number search and find out what year your camera was manufactured. Let us know what you find out. Very interested.

BHC Loc: Strawberry Valley, JF, USA

ebrunner wrote:

The first Leica camera with interchangeable was in... (show quote)

I believe the Ic was a stripped down IIIc with no slow speed settings and an external viewfinder option for one of its two accessory shoes. In average condition, a common sample might bring $1200-$1500. However, a special, presentation or commemorative sample could increase that value many times over.

ebrunner Loc: New Jersey Shore

Mogul wrote:

I believe the Ic was a stripped down IIIc with no slow speed settings and an external viewfinder option for one of its two accessory shoes. In average condition, a common sample might bring $1200-$1500. However, a special, presentation or commemorative sample could increase that value many times over.

I don't know about value; but my information is that the III was first built in 1933. There were several version. Among them was the Leica 250 (reporter)which could hold a roll of film up to 250 frames. There was also a III c Kältefest model (1942) that was designed to withstand cold temperatures. The Leica IIIa was the first Leica to have a shutter speed of 1/1000sec. Without a picture it is going to be a bit difficult to see what exactly the poster has.

Pablo8 Loc: Nottingham UK.

I still have (and use) my 111c No. 506174. plus 6 Leica lenses.

Mercer Loc: Houston, TX, USA

Google Leica serial numbers. I have a model D and found it without any problem. Offhand, yours looks very much like a Leica I, which predated the D and II models. If I recall correctly, the D (or II) was the first model with a rangefinder, but lacked the low and high shutter speeds. The III had the low and high speeds. As a matter of interest, you might want to google for "Leica Freedom Train" or "Leica smuggled Jews" which tells of Leica's sending a very large number of Jews out of Nazi Germany during the 1930's as "Camera Technicians, or Company Reps." A good percentage of them ended up in New York, and some survive to this day and daily thank G-- for Leica.

nekon Loc: Carterton, New Zealand

The one's given to Jews on the freedom train were 111b models

ebrunner Loc: New Jersey Shore

I looked up the serial number and this is what I came up with.
34818 60000 Leica I 1930 camera

Looks like you have a Leica I from 1930. Congratulations. Looks like it is in pretty rough condition. Not surprising considering the date of manufacture.

BHC Loc: Strawberry Valley, JF, USA

ebrunner wrote:

I looked up the serial number and this is what I came up with.
34818 60000 Leica I 1930 camera

Looks like you have a Leica I from 1930. Congratulations. Looks like it is in pretty rough condition. Not surprising considering the date of manufacture.

I also researched the S/N and found the same information; there is, however, one minor point to keep in mind. Last month the same question arose about the age of another Leica. I e-mailed Leica USA and got the following answer. Please note the section I have converted to Bold Face Type:

The reference list we have from Leica Germany indicates that this serial number falls within the year 1930, but even the Leica company often claims there could be a variance of plus or minus one year.

Have you checked out www.lhsa.org<http://www.lhsa.org>?

Best regards,
Mark Brady
Leica Camera Inc. / Technical Advisor
1 Pearl Court, Unit A / Allendale, NJ 07401 / USA
www.leicacamerausa.com / mark.brady@leicacamerausa.com
Telephone: 800-222-0118 dial 1, then ext: 9942 / Fax (+1) 201-995-1684

ebrunner Loc: New Jersey Shore

I remember that discussion and, yes, there does seem to be some question about exact dates. Still, I think we came close. What intrigues me in this instance is that the lens appears to be missing. If 1930 or 1931 are the dates of manufacture, then the missing lens is a big issue because they are not interchangeable then.

nekon Loc: Carterton, New Zealand

ebrunner wrote:

I remember that discussion and, yes, there does seem to be some question about exact dates. Still, I think we came close. What intrigues me in this instance is that the lens appears to be missing. If 1930 or 1931 are the dates of manufacture, then the missing lens is a big issue because they are not interchangeable then.

from Wikipedia: In 1930 came the Leica I Schraubgewinde with an exchangeable lens system ....

ebrunner Loc: New Jersey Shore

nekon wrote:

from Wikipedia: In 1930 came the Leica I Schraubgewinde with an exchangeable lens system ....

I stand corrected. You are right about the Schraubgewinde and 1930.

Mercer Loc: Houston, TX, USA

Please google www.cameraquest.com/itmnum.htm

This site will give you screw mount body info provided by Leica. According to the list you will see, Leica Serial # 59733 is a Leica I, delivered in 1930, part of a batch of 25,193 Leica I's.