WWII German Air Force camera

[orlovphoto]

Hello,

I recently got a camera that the owner wants to sell through me. I don't think this is something for e-bay and so I have come here to ask you all good people about where the best place for me to get a fair value for this historical piece.

I would love to know if there is a good list online of cameras used in airplanes in WWII by German military. The only thing the owner knows if that it was supposedly mounted on a bomber to study bombing patters (?). I would love to know what, when and how it was used.

Also, are there any serious collectors of this stuff out there? One's that aren't looking to pick up something at 1/100th of a price?

Any resource would be appreciated.
Thank you.

 

[AverageJoe]

Don't we run into a moral question here?

 

[orlovphoto]

We do to the extent that I would like to find a proper venue for it - a collector, a museum,.. somewhere it would be appreciated and I don't want to put it up on eBay where it would be missed by those people and bought for pennies by some Hitler-loving folk.
What would you recommend doing with it?


OP
--
AverageJoe
Don't we run into a moral question here?

 

[Light Artisan]

I'd love a camera like that, have any photos?

 

[dxqcanada]

San Diego Air & Space Museum - Balboa Park, San Diego

 

[AverageJoe]

Maybe call around some of the military aviation museums and see what they recommend. A Google search yields decent results for "military aviation museum".

 

[orlovphoto]

Military museums are a good idea, though I'm afraid they rarely offer a fair price... Unfortunately financially I am not in the position to donate it. I'll get some pictures up later this week.

I'm really looking for an established collector or a shop that caters to them.

Thanks.

 

[Mitica100]

I do collect rare cameras as people on this Forum know. I am always interested in something like this. One of my most prized collectibles is a Contax III with Kriegsmarine serial number, taken possibly from a decommissioned German U-Boat. Beware though of many imitations and fakes! There are the so called 'Luftwaffen' Leicas with the markings of the 3rd Reich on them. The problem is Leica never put any such markings, production wise, nor did Zeiss. The serial numbers were assigned after the cameras were built and left the factory. Sometimes you will find inscriptions such as Luftwaffe Eigentum (Property of the Air Force) on Leicas, Robots and Contax cameras. Even these can be faked. Recently someone pointed out a fake Leica with the inscription of Lufthansa on it!! :lmao::lmao:


As I mentioned in the Collector's Corner, pictures always help identify and value your camera. Should you believe the pictures might be offensive to some here, feel free to PM and we'll take it from there.

 

[orlovphoto]

Thanks for the help. Berning Robot II - Lights in the Box here is a link to one that looks like mine. Mine does have Luftwaffe stamped on the back under the paint and a number F before the serial number (from what I read that meant it was flight approved). Not sure if I want to sell it at this point...

 

[Mitica100]

Thanks for the help. Berning Robot II - Lights in the Box here is a link to one that looks like mine. Mine does have Luftwaffe stamped on the back under the paint and a number F before the serial number (from what I read that meant it was flight approved). Not sure if I want to sell it at this point...

Oops, I didn't check this post first... Yeah, it looks like you have the real thing. One more thing though, unscrew the lens and see if it says Luftwaffen Eigentum
on it.

Let me know if and when you think about selling it. PM me.