Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1999/01/04
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Addressing the issue of the propriety of collecting WWII Leica equipment, I believe that most folks that do so do so out of making their collection more "complete". The WWII Leica cameras do have more collector value attached to them whether they are a "Plain Jane" IIIc wartime (with the nifty knob on the rangefinder diopter lever) or the vastly more valuable "Luftwaffen, Heer or M" (Airforce, Army, Navy) engraved IIIBs and IIICs. But then again, rarity and value are also assigned to the Swedish Army IIIg's and the US Army KE-7A cameras. I'm a "small potatoes" collector and the only thing I have of this breed is a Wartime IIIc (no red curtains -- no "Eigentum") - -- which I found a good deal on recently and purchased. My main motivation was to have at least one each of a Wartime and Postwar IIIc. I believe the "Big Potatoe" :-) collectors are the same but with deeper pockets so a "Luftwaffen Eigentum" might be a real catch for them. I don't think anything more than Leica Collecting Fever is to blame for the interest in wartime equipment. Mark Hammons