How would the value of a mint leica body(the brass and shutter etc) depreciate if the vulcanite are in patches?

-- Greg (Gregkowhim@hotmail.com), May 21, 2002

Answers

You mean the body has no wear except the vulcanite is all cracked, split?

-- Karl Yik (karl.yik@dk.com), May 21, 2002.

It is impossible or uneconomical to have large areas of Vulcanite repaired although small chips can be filled in. It is always possible to have any Leica re-covered with a leather or synthetic. It will not be "original" and thus severely impact any collectible value the camera might have, but to a user it should not make any difference.

-- Jay (infinitydt@aol.com), May 21, 2002.

Greg. Many people play fast and losse with the word "mint". This technically means perfect condition, in the box, with all original packing material and papers. A Leica with the vulcanite in patches is certainly not mint. The amount of depreciation depends on the model (ie., is it a rare camera) and how much of the vulcanite is missing. The older (pre-M4P) vulcanite is no longer made and you would have to find a source of original vulcanite to replace the defect. A collector would not appreciate an older camera with the new type vulcanite.

-- Eliot (erosen@lij.edu), May 21, 2002.

I suspect the depreciation if you sold it "as is" would be less than the cost of re-covering the camera plus the additional depreciation incurred if you use non-original material.

-- Ray Moth (ray_moth@yahoo.com), May 21, 2002.

V ulcanite by nature

-- Kelly Flanigan (zorki3c@netscape.net), May 22, 2002.