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tom_eitnier

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Posts posted by tom_eitnier

    Looking for Fellow Collectors and Historians concerning Leica IIIC History Spanning 1940 to 1947 German and US Army Military Cameras and Combat Photographers in WW2

    in Leica and Rangefinders

    Posted

    <p>Hello Everyone!<br /><br />I`m looking for serious and knowledgeable historians and collectors dedicated to the Leica IIIC camera history.<br /><br />I`m researching stories about WW2 Military Photographers and Correspondents who used Leica`s, men who fought on both sides, German and Allied military personnel.<br /><br />History about the various Leica`s used by the German forces and US Army forces 1940 to 1947.<br /><br />I have been researching the US Army Leica era from May 1945 to early 1947 in detail now for about 3 years and now I want to expand my research now to the WW2 German forces, to possibly contact surviving German soldiers who were Photographers during the war, either Army, Airforce or the Navy?<br /><br />Please serious inquires only also exclusive collectors of Leica Military cameras and Leitz/Leica historians contact me, collectors can be worldwide, I also speak and read fluent German, so this is no problem for me, German collectors and historians feel free to contact me.<br /><br />I write back and forth often with Mr. James Lager and verify all vintage cameras in question and discuss the historical facts and I plan a book about the WW2 era Combat photographers in action, many using Leica`s.<br /><br />I`m running out of time, so many WW2 Veterans have passed away their stories are gone forever, if anyone can help me please contact men who are still alive or if there`s any families of soldiers who can share their deceased relatives stories, please let me know, I`m looking for photos, stories, paperwork, letters anything having to deal with ex- Military Combat Photographers.<br>

    Please contact me directly to my email<br /><br /><a href="mailto:winkermeister@aol.com">winkermeister@aol.com</a><br /><br />Thank You Kindly<br /><br />Tom Eitnier</p>

    Are there any wartime IIIc instruction manuals?

    in Leica and Rangefinders

    Posted

    David,

     

    There was that one listing in German as mentioned from Jim`s book, but other than that there were NO printed manuals in English or for an English speaking market

    Less than 200 IIIC`s were even in allied hands by the end of the war, but that was to soon change, I have records of cameras being sold to the US Forces as early as May 9th (the day after the surrender)

     

    US Third Army made a Leica Instruction manual in June 1945 which features a "stepped rewind platform" Leica IIIC in it for the first time, this was pretty much the first English language manual of any sort, I do have a copy and I will be producing professional copies about the time that I release my book about US Army Leica`s - sometime next year, ohh and that person who said the other difference in the cameras were the stepped rewind platform is very very wrong, there where at least 4 different types technical versions of the camera (it`s maybe the most modified line of cameras in Leitz`s history) all of that will finally be explained when this book comes out a great deal of history about the IIIC has been ignored for years, mostly evertything`s been written about the wartime cameras, but nothing about what happened right after the war, I hope that our book will shed some light on this subject

    DBP/IIIa Identification--Monte en Sarre?

    in Leica and Rangefinders

    Posted

    This camera has the post 1954 engraving of the REPLACEMENT tops constructed at Leitz for conversion upgrades, what you have is a FACTORY Leica III to Leica IIIFBD conversion, this includes the 1000th speed, the flash sync and flash number value engravings

     

    Leitz redid all the Leica III and eariler tops this way, due to the flash sync and values stamped on premade newer tops, only Leica IIIB and IIIC cameras retained their original factory made tops after conversions

     

    And this has NOTHING to do with Monte en Sarre

    Film Loading

    in Leica and Rangefinders

    Posted

    I agree to put a slight "bend" in the end of the leader, also advance the roll to see it`s properly seated and wrapping tightly then close the bottom.....

    I always took the rewind knob and made sure it was taunt as well, then I shot off a deadshot with the cap on and you always watch the rewind knob to see it`s turning

     

    I shot (2) empty rolls the first week I owned my trusty old M6 but after doing this for 10 years it became as it was intended to be a FAST LOADER!

     

    The M6 is gone now......traded for an original US Army Leica

    IIIC K "Grey" - the M6 was and still is a great camera (it`s new owner is a very happy man!) but I had to get back used to loading LTM`s as I use them now almost full time shooting my Retro PinUps

     

    I have a spring loaded Leica M3 spool in my "Half Race" bearing IIIC

    and the IIIC K is all original (loads and shoots like a dream with the original spool) and the rest of my equipment is Canon RF (2) rare IIF2`s with Rapid Winders with their funny little "popup" spools load almost as fast as the M6

     

    Tom

    Who can do quality baked black paintjob on a Leica IIIC in the USA?

    in Leica and Rangefinders

    Posted

    Yes, James - I also love to shoot "camera porn"

     

    I`m going to photograph the Collector grade "Half Race" chrome IIIC, my "Grey" IIIC K and the new black paint "Half Race" altogether

    and then post them here and at RFF

     

    I figure I`ll have it all done by late next month or early November

     

    I have to "sell" one of my other cameras to make this all happen

     

    I will be offering a EX++/Mint- 1955 Canon IIF2 with Rapidwinder - these are pretty RARE Canon`s only 2,625 cameras produced -

    anyone interested?

    Who can do quality baked black paintjob on a Leica IIIC in the USA?

    in Leica and Rangefinders

    Posted

    Yep!

     

    I will have it done by a colleague of his, Youxin will do a full CLA, curtain and covering replacement and the top plate and bottom plate will be sent off for de-chroming and baked black paintjob - I got a great deal for all of this and it`s going to be the perfect "user" IIIC when it`s all done

     

    It BTW is a very rare and unique camera in itself, a very late Leica IIIC "Half Race" stepper rewind #3974xx (from Feb. 13th 1946 Leitz factory order) one of the last, early series bodied IIIC`s

     

    When it`s done it will be identical to the factory werks cameras of the same era

     

    It will become my "main" LTM user, my mint "Half Race" and Grey IIIC K will only be used on occasion after that.......

     

    Tom

    Who can do quality baked black paintjob on a Leica IIIC in the USA?

    in Leica and Rangefinders

    Posted

    I would never send equipment to the FSU for repair, too much risk of being lost or stolen

     

    Paul, what did the Luton job cost you? Shipping and Duty and Taxes would kill me I think, I don`t want to pay over $1,000 to get a camera done, I`ve heard and seen they do a great job, but I think the cost would be too high to do a simple IIIC - I`d consider maybe doing it with a really beat up IIIC K (but mine is really in good shape and all original never restored)

     

    Thanks Ron I`ll call him and ask, I`m sure someone in the states does this?

     

    Tom

    My IIIF and 50 Elmar in Lake Como

    in Leica and Rangefinders

    Posted

    Paul

     

    #1 is simply beautiful.......looks like it`s straight out of the 1950`s!

    *There`s another reason why I miss Europe so much! Because it`s so beautiful* :) looks like you had a wonderful vacation!

     

    I`ll be back over in 2008/09 to pick up my vintage car and do a tour of Southern Germany and Northern Austria with my "two" 1945 cameras IIIC K and IIIC with a pallet of lenses, I can`t wait to see the Alps again

     

    Tom

    Military Leicas for the U.S. Army Signal Corps.

    in Leica and Rangefinders

    Posted

    Here`s an update about this beautiful Grey IIIC K which now has a new home here in Florida :)

     

    I just received the camera this past morning, seeing the "real" deal for the first time in a long time, is refreshing and very exciting to see a camera with such a rich history....

     

    This information is from Mr. James Lager, this Leica Grey IIIC K was delivered to a US Army Brigadier General on May 25th 1945 (about two weeks after the German surrender) and then given to a Major in the US Army Signal Corps 500 cameras were prepared like this for the General and delivered on that date.

     

    This was part of the first issue of Leica cameras to the US Army in 1945 (directly from the company) but not the only one, seems that Leitz kicked in with the supply of cameras immediately to the American Forces, for work and personal use and quite a few deliveries were made that first year, soon the first American PX`s were stocked with new Leica`s and the postwar Leica use boomed among the American Servicemen and Women stationed in Germany and Austria after the war.

     

    I`m now looking to find out more about the General and the Major to pinpoint their Military careers, so I might shed yet more light on my new Leica.

     

    And many many thanks again to Leo, you are the best! Thank you so very much for the wonderful camera :)

     

    Tom

     

    PS: The only thing that I`ve changed on the camera is I added a orange Leica rangefinder filter, which really is a good idea, it changes the whole aspect of the rangefinder focusing and technique.<div>00LWjd-37000484.jpg.0e9b1ba47fff090d2ea7cc29f97f8508.jpg</div>

    US Army Manual for Leica IIIC dated 1944/45/46?

    in Leica and Rangefinders

    Posted

    Thank you Christopher,

     

    I`ll look into that, I guess the US Army did the same thing that the

    British Government did in 1939, they bought up a fair sized amount of cameras Leica, Contax etc. for duty with the Royal Air Force and Royal Navy.

     

    Here Leitz NY received cameras well into the late fall of 1941, I imagine a select handful of IIIC`s made it here before the war, but it was the most expensive and least known Leica in use here at that time, the III`s, IIIa`s and b`s getting the bulk of the use by the US Combat Cameramen in WW2.

     

    Tom

    US Army Manual for Leica IIIC dated 1944/45/46?

    in Leica and Rangefinders

    Posted

    Has anyone ever seen or have a US Army tech manual for Leica IIIC

    dated 1944/45 or 46? With the early IIIC body pictured in it?

    (with the raised "stepper" rewind lever area)

     

    Copies or an original example would be greatly appreciated for

    my research of the use of the Leica`s in the US Army during

    and right after WW2

     

    Thank You

     

    Tom

     

    PS: Seems that my original post about Leitz and Wetzlar in 1945 was deleted

    anyone who has any important information, stories and history of the Leica

    cameras being used by the US Army and American`s abroad in from 1941 to 1951

    eras, please contact off the board, this is an ongoing personal project and

    research about the use of Leica cameras in and by the US Military

    LTM: XENON 1.5, some shots.

    in Leica and Rangefinders

    Posted

    John,

    Very nice photos, I`ve been looking for a "late" Xenon too, records state they were run in the 491000 range (for the last of them) finding a late one is`nt very easy, but I`m interested in getting one, if you ever see another late production one around give me a yell!

     

    Thanks

    Tom

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