Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1998/03/10
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Gary - Leitz uses these exact words in regards to black painted Leicas: "Die Kameras wurden schwarz lackiert geliefert" The cameras were delivered painted with black lacquer < They use the word lackiert but of course it is enamel. Collectors of automobiles are a different breed from those of Leicas or coins. A restored '57 is of course worth more than one unrestored unless you could find one in unused condition (which is possible with a '57 Leica but hardly with an auto). There are some (few) collectors that have their rare Leicas restored by such as Malcom Taylor or George Carr (deceased) but they are for a museum or collection of a very rich person who isn't interested in the resale value as he probably will never in his lifetime sell it. For a while Tom Abrahamsson used a special tough black painting process for professionals that liked black M2 & M3s but it was done only as a service and not to pass off like the rare originals. Greg Metzgar in Ohio used to charge $600 for a black paint job and currentently Takahashi in Japan is loaded with orders for black paint restorations at $1000 ea. The key word is restoration - as to paint a a chrome camera black (after stripping off all the chrome) would be producing a counterfeit but if your M4 was originally black painted - then it would be considered a restoration and even the Leitz factory used to do them. Marvin Moss ---your fellow LHSA member ====================================================== << I know that you do not clean old coins or they lose value. But a paint-peeling '57 Chevy has never been worth more than one with a good new paint job. What about a black-paint M camera? Also can anyone explain the difference between "black paint" and "black enamel" - two terms that often show up in used camera listings. Regards, Gary Todoroff > Lee, > > Think twice. Your black M4, even ugly, will be worth more than a > repaint. probably twice as much. On top of that, it will be much > easier to sell in it's original though worn condition. > > Stephen Gandy > > >>