One thousand Leica IIIc cameras dispatched to at least 18 countries including neutrals Portugal, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland. All during 1942 with no direct deliveries to the Allies.
Just under 480 units to Leitz agent Schmidt in Shanghai.China in June 1942. Range of serial numbers between 386056-386715. Shipped with 5cm Elmar (LOOGI), 5cm Summitar (LOOQA), or 5cm Xenon (LOOSB).
After nearly five decades of research this 1000 camera batch continues to prove elusive.
Where are these Leicas?
Were most of them consumed during World War II?
From my notes:
386101 to China as LOOQA
386434 ”
386479 ”
386569 to China as LOOGI
386277 no entry in delivery ledger
386278 ”
386588 to the Luftwaffe as LOOGI on 2.4.42 shipment 29653
Do you have a 386001-387000 Leica IIIc you will share with us ?
Contact Sam Shoshan with your observations. (Sam@Classicconnection.com)
ILLUSTRATION:
Luftwaffen-Eigentum Leica IIIc 386588 delivered 2.4.42
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
James L. Lager received his B.S. and M.S. degrees from Ohio State University. In 1971 he joined the Leica Technical Center of E. Leitz, Inc. Rockleigh, N.J. Since 1975 Jim has worked in the retail sector of the photo industry. The author’s previous books are; LEICA ILLUSTRATED GUIDE, (1975). LEICA ILLUSTRATED GUIDE II, (1978). LEICA ILLUS-TRATED GUIDE III, (1979), LEICA LITERATURE, (1980) and LEICA, AN ILLUSTRATED HISTORY, VOLUME I – CAMERAS, (1993) and VOLUME II – LENSES, (1994).
Jim is a past president of the Leica Historical Society of America (LHSA) and past editor of its official publication, VIEWFINDER, in which he wrote and illustrated over 100 articles. His photographs have been published in LEICA FOTOGRAFIE and LEICA PHOTOGRAPHY. Over 22 years of almost daily contact with the Leica camera on both pragmatic and esthetic levels, has given Jim Lager a unique perspective on this engaging subject.
