uncommon leitz lens serial date info needed on folder camera

McKeown's lists the Perle as having several different lens/shutter combinations, but no Leitz lenses. I'm not that familiar with the Weltas, but I would guess that from what I read and your discription, that this is not original.

BTW, your pic does not come through.

Hi, Andrew I go along with Craig here, in that I doubt your Leitz Elmar is a kosher item for the Perle. Althugh Leitz did supply their lenses on occasion to other manufacturers, their trade prices must have been horrendous compared to equivalent Xenars and Tessars judging by the end results in consumer catalogs.

Talking of which, I've scanned a 1937 ad for the Perle from the Oz Welta importer's catalog. You'll see that we only got it with the f4.5 Meyer Trioplan or f2.9 Steinheil Cassar, but a check with my Kadlubek's Katalog shows it was also available in Germany with Xenar and Tessar lenses - but no Elmar, of course!

I decided to go through all the Welta cameras listed in KKKs just for the hell of it, and I have to pass on the bad news that none of them are listed with any form of Leitz lens option, although just about every other German lens maker's products are there in some form or another. (Pete In Perth)

Hmm, no damn picture! I was going to blame Bill Gates as per usual, but it seems several postee's pics are disappearing into cyberspace since the Photo Net computer revamp. Maybe the missing pics will appear shortly .................. (Pete In Perth)

Try this...

David

Andrew, This was discussed back in Feb. and still no clear answer for you, I see. Broken links to image, too.

David

The way I see it, You have a super lens on a great little camera. Use it and enjoy! I don't see any bad news there.

Andrew,

I am not a Leica guy, but there isn't a company that's been more under the lupe than Leitz. I am speculating here? But who did Leica sell this lens to.. there must be some kind of record? Who put this lens in this shutter.. if anybody? As the scale is in "feet", who (USA importer dealer, ) might of adapted this lens/shutter? The concensus seems to be it's not from Pearl/Perle /Welte so chasing the other clues seems obvious?

Craig my pic shows as attachment on my screen. Pete yours shows on screen to me.

pete you have an aussie welta catologue!! thats amazing! please,,, tell me how to get one!!! i have some german and euro ones but no ozzie.

i know of a couple of welta that were available with leitz lenses, a plate camera and a1939 weltini (i have one now) and i have some welta pearl's with most of the other lens combinations you mention as well.

this camera in question is on ebay now and has now hit record high prices for such a camera...obviously i collect the welta cameras (because no one else did and they are normaly cheap LOL) and was interested in purchasing it but it is just getting to high and ridiculous for such a camera, not to mention it doesn't look quite right!

i dont recall discussing this before david, maybe it was something simular. i asked about this camera and lens because it has just shown up on ebay and was hoping that someone may know how to date the lens...this type of serial number doesn't show up on the normal leica lens serial number charts is all...cheers andrew

Andrew,

I agree with your assessment of authenticity. Although the serial number isn't too far off. One of my Elmars is engraved about 130,000 or so from 1932. It's close to the number on a Vollenda that's on eBay as well, but none have the "F". However, as you pointed out, the lens mount blocks the Compur shutter markings and it certainly doesn't look original. Elmar's were costly optional lenses and it wouldn't have been fit like that, IMO. If it was fit to the shutter by someone, the question is whether the rest of the optics are also present, not just the front cell focusing. The general rule is if it isn't original, it probably isn't worth much.

Ciao

David