Riga Minox

What price range should one expect to pay for a Riga Minox? Is it possible to obtain one in exceptional condition? Anyone have one for sale?

Riga Minox is one of the much sought after Minox collectibles. Prices

varies depending on condition of the camera. You expect to pay $1000

and up. Unless you visit camera swap meets (not the on line ones ).

 

 

<p> The best place to look for a Riga is on line auction house

<a

href="http://search.ebay.com/cgi-bin/texis/ebay/results.html?query=min

ox&CategoryID=&maxRecordsReturned=300&maxRecordsPerPage=100&SortProper

ty=MetaEndSort"><h3>eBay</h3></a>

 

<p> You may also check the buy/sell board at MPL, or put up

an ads there (free).<p>

 

 

 

<a

href="http://www.minoxlab.com/CLASSIFIED%20INFORMATION/classified_adve

rtisment.htm"><h3>Minox Processing Lab classified ads</h3></a>

Bob, The short answer is "it depends." There are many rare

variations of the Riga, and some will command extraordinary prices,

even in less than sterling condition. These include USSR marked or re-

marked, German occupation re-mills back to "Made in Latvia", of

cameras that were originally stamped USSR, Nazi engraved ones that

can be documented, early marking variations on back plate and lens

window, and the very rare "Patent App." engraving, and ultra rare 12-

tooth Riga. (Don't go by the total serial numbers that should have

been made with 12-tooth claws, most of these were replaced by three

tooth claws by the factory early on as they gave trouble, so only a

handful survive today with original takeup claws.) Additional rare

dial variations, eyelets and other oddities also command a premium.

Any of these can command sums that might make that $1,000 figure look

like pocket change! A truly "mint" Riga can be obtained, and they do

occasionally surface. These will go for over $1,500 to perhaps $2,000

if a mint original case and/or box and papers are also included. A

typical ordinary Riga in clean shape with signs of use, but no

scratches or dings will go between $1,200 and 1,500, one with light

scratches or a tiny nick or dent might be in the $1,000 - 1,200

range. Try Woodmere Cameras, Brooklyn Camera Exchange, Don

Chatterton, and several other dealers who get Rigas on occasion. They

are all listed in Shutterbug magazine, your best source for tracking

down second hand Minoxes. A word of caution, Rigas tend to be

cantankerous. Some will run like new, others will hang up a few

months after a CLA. The lubricants sometimes gum them up, as does a

hung up flyweight, both of which will cause the sector timing gear

not to reset, meaning no slow shutter speeds. Listen carefully to a

Riga as you twist the shutter dial from low to high speeds and back.

You should hear a nice crisp buzzzzz as the timing gear resets to

slow speed. If not, it is balky, it will need a CLA, at least. Also,

some Riga parts are no longer to be had. If it breaks and DAG can't

fix it, you will have a nice paperweight.

<h3> Riga Minox stamp </h3><P>Minox GmbH issued a Riga Minox stamp

folder in 1994.<P>j

On page 3 of this folder is a piece of genuine unused Estonia

1994 stamp : <P><UL><LI> face value 2.7 Estonia currency

<li> sketch of Ur- Minox title "Walter Zapp's camera

patent # 2628 "

<LI> Size : 26 x 33 mm

<LI> Ink : black and red ink letters on yellow back ground,

</ul>

There is a short biography of Minox inventor Walter

 

 

The price of this stamp has risen considerably.

 

I paid about US$6.00 for this Minox 50 year stamp in 1996.

Now you have to pay $20.0 -- a jump of more than 200 %

<p>Riga Minox is not a rare camera. There were 17460 Riga Minox made, slightly less than 17880 units of Minox BL, far more( 34 times more) than MINOX AX GOLD/AX GOLD II (total number) 500 .</p>

Rare russian SPY camera MINOX RIGA made in Latvia #16868 | eBay

 

I have a Riga Minox serial number 11757, with orginal case

However Riga Minox( about $2000) is more expensive than Minox AX gold($1500)

I have an earlier Riga Minox

VEF Minox Riga

serial number 10911 made in Latvia

patented

Round rear viewfinder window

 

Minostigmant 1:3.5 lens

 

Both Riga Minox shutter works

 

My third Riga Minox is misplaced

Edited December 24, 2021 by MTC Photography

My third Riga Minox found

 

Serial number 06514

 

My Riga Minox sn 06514 is much earlier thenn USSR Riga Minox 9591, 9878,

It may be made in Latvia before USSR occupation, hence probably made before 1940

 

Looking up Hubert Heckmann's book MINOX The Queen of Spy Cameras

SN Riga Minox was made in 1939

Edited December 24, 2021 by MTC Photography

Riga Minox with Luigi genuine leather jipper case