Leica 0-Series

In 1923, two years before the Leica was launched, 22 to 25 cameras of what is nowadays called the Leica 0-series were made for testing purposes, of which 16 are still known worldwide. Based on the assessment of the Leica 0-series by the experts involved, Ernst Leitz II decided in 1924 to serial-produce the camera designed by Oskar Barnack. The “revolution in photography” that was initiated as a result took its course. Therefore, these cameras represent not just the prototypes of the Leica I, but the prototypes of all Leica 35mm cameras to this day. In the delivery records for the cameras from the Leica 0-series, which is still kept in the Leica archive, there are a total of 20 entries in the number range 101 to 125 - the lines with the numbers 116 and 121 and 123 to 125 are blank. It is still unclear whether cameras with numbers 123 to 125 were completed. On page 115 of Oskar Barnack's workshop diary, there is a table showing the delivery of 13 Leica 0-series cameras from the period between March and September 1923, as well as the names of the recipients. On the same page there is another compilation of some names, the headline of this table is "two loaner cameras". One of these entries is marked "116". We assume that these two loaner cameras were camera numbers 116 and 121, which were not assigned to a specific user, but were made available to a number of people alternately for testing. To camera No. 121 there is a certain curiosity in the secondary literature: In the book "Leica, a History illustrating every Model and Accessory" published by Paul-Henry van Hasbroeck in 1983, page 31 shows a compilation of Leica 0-series models known to the author at the time. To camera No. 121 there is the entry "King collection, United Kingdom". In the translation of this book into German, there is a translation error, after which "King collection" was confused with "Royal collection". With "King", in fact, was meant a family name. This error was then also carried over into the Italian and Japanese language editions of the book. The original black paint finish in very nice condition. The five-element Anastigmat 50 mm f/3.5 lens with an aperture scale to 12 and very clean optics. Typical conversion to tubular viewfinder, around 1924. The bottomplate was probably renewed at the same time. With original leather lens cap with fastening cord and original spool. A historically important camera and an extreme rarity! Literature: Ulf Richter, “Oskar Barnack – Von der Idee zur Leica”, p. 84ff.; Paul-Henry van Hasbroeck, „Leica, a History illustrating every Model and Accessory, p. 33.