Re: [OM] (OT) And we complain about OM prices.......

[Skip Williams]

Most all the copies have been of Leica Screw Mount (LTM) Cameras.  The 
M-Mount has been protected by patents for quite a while (I think up until 
the 90's).  There are boatloads of LTM copies from every country imaginable. 
 But almost no M copies.
I too am a little skeptical of the authenticity of the Compur Leica.  But 
stranger things have happened.  And some sellers would rather work with 
individual buyers rather than deal with a big auction house and their fees.  
The seller seems open to third-party inspection.  If it was kept put away 
since the 30's, it could easily be in the shape as seen.  Any serious buyers 
will be asking the "right" questions and negotiating an escrow for a 
professional appraisel, IMO.
Skip



> From: John Hudson <jahudson@xxxxxxx>
> Reply-To: olympus@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> To: olympus@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Subject: Re: [OM] (OT) And we complain about OM prices.......
> Date: Fri, 22 Mar 2002 19:03:29 -0800
>
> Skip Williams wrote:
> >
> > The Chinese Red Flag is one of the only known copies of a Leica M 
> camera,
> > and as such is very valued by collectors.  It's not much different than
> > anything else pursued by obsessive collectors.  I for one didn't even 
> know
> > that such an animal existed.  I'm also surprised at its cost!
>
> Skip ....... there are any number of copies of Leica rangefinders. Ten
> years or so ago Leica Fotografie magazine had a lengthy series of
> articles about fake Leicas. Nikon and Canon got into the act as well as
> the Russians and Chinese. I don't know if Red Flag is the only copier of
> M models but I do know that perhaps the very finest fakes were made by
> Reid in the UK and from what I have read the Reids were pretty close to
> the originals in terms of build quality. Why anyone would want a Chinese
> made look a like I can't imagine.
>
> >
> > The Compur shuttered, early Leica is VERY rare and the one in the 
> picture
> > from the Polish seller looks like it's in almost MINT condition.  If 
> it's
> > the original finish and authentic, I'm amazed at the pristine nature of 
> the
> > camera.  It obviously was put away with little use.  This is truely a 
> gem of
> > a collectible.  Much more interesting than the Chinese camera.
>
> If this Polish offering was genuine it would more likely see the inside
> of Sotheby's than being peddled on ebay. My guess is that it is a fake
> as well. The images on ebay looked strangely retro as if they had had a
> makeover ....... the body painting just did not look as if it was 60 or
> 70 years old.
>
> Just my two bits.
>
> jh
>
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