Identify Leica

I found this old Leica. The camera has two serial numbers on the top plate. Can someone please tell me what kind of leica it is and why there are two serial numbers on the top plate?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It looks like a wartime (WW2) 3C from 1941. It may have originally had a red/black shutter, or it may still have one. The marking on the back indicates that it would have belonged to the German Air Force. It has obviously been used after the war if the later 1949 design(?) Summaron made in 1958 was actually part of the kit.

The EL No. is very different from the conventional serial No. which indicates 1941 I think the difference is tied up with the military designation.

It looks like an original Leica to me.

It looks like a wartime (WW2) 3C from 1941. It may have originally had a red/black shutter, or it may still have one. The marking on the back indicates that it would have belonged to the German Air Force. It has obviously been used after the war if the later 1949 design(?) Summaron made in 1958 was actually part of the kit.

The EL No. is very different from the conventional serial No. which indicates 1941 I think the difference is tied up with the military designation.

It looks like an original Leica to me.

I agree that it is a 1941 IIIc based on the serial number as reported by Chester Sartorius in his book "Identifying Leica Cameras". It appears original and may have historic value. It was probably shipped with a 50mm f3.5 Elmar.

As well as the serial number, it has the features of a wartime IIIc (eyepiece adjustment lever with knob, 'step' under rewind lever). An expert can confirm if the Luftwaffe engravings are genuine. FL ('Flieger' = flyer) No 38079 is a standard Luftwaffe camera inventory number (not unique to your specific camera). If you take the case off, is there anything embossed on the hard rubber ('Vulcanite') back? If you take the lens off, what colour are the shutter blinds?

Faked "historic" Leicas abound. I would assume the worse (it's a fake) and be pleasantly surprised if an expert can confirm it's legit. People don't just "find"/stumble on to German military-marked World War II Leica bodies these days.

If you're going to use it, give it a try and see if everything works, if not, it will need a CLA by a qualified technician. If you're planning to sell it, and claim that it indeed is a Leica, you will need independent authentication or papers showing its provenance. Chances are pretty likely that it is a fake, but if it is authentic and in working condition, you have a really good find.

There is no doubt that this is a genuine Leica of the correct period. An expert would only be required to authenticate the extra Luftwaffe engravings. If they are also genuine you have to be careful about CLAs - e.g., replacing original red shutter blinds (if it has them) would probably reduce the value to a collector.

Googling the serial number 369092 I see this Luftwaffe Leica IIIc was just auctioned for more than $2000 USD at shopgoodwill.com:

 

shopgoodwill.com - #42891228 - Vintage Leica D.R.P. Ernst Wetzlar #369092 - 8/26/2017 6:49:00 PM