Apparently an extremely rare Exakta Military camera. The camera and lens was manufactured in 1938. Serial #554638 body. Lens Nr.2429403. The lens is a Carl Zeiss Jena Tessar 2.8 8cm.The military markings can be seen on the body along with matching number and marking on the underside of the lens.The M, to my understanding, indicates it was for the german marine (Navy).The number is also rivited to the back of the leather case.The camera is in operating condition. Shutter appears to fire normally. This camera is being sold as is for collector pourposes only and not as a user. Exakta shutters, as most of us know is fragile at best.
9904

Hereafter you can read the comments by some collectors. If you wish to look at other military engravings you can reach the military Tessar pages (1 - 2)

From a collector to the seller

The photos are now loading, thanks A couple of questions. What is the history of this camera? Where did it come from, when etc. Various cameras with similar markings have been surfacing that are believed to be fakes. What evidence is there that this is the real thing? Thanks for your time.

From the seller to the collector

As we all know authenticating cameras is a difficult thing to do some times. I have seen some fake leicas coming out of eastern Europe since roughly 1992 or so. They were obvious fakes. This camera in my opinion is genuine. From the engravings to the serial #s on the lens and camera. Thus far I have been able to contact only one gentleman, who is and has been a Exakta collector for very many years,and is in Phoenix Az. I spoke with him just yesterday. He was of the opinion that it is authentic. He had books unknown to me that he was referencing for the body and lens etc.Although I don't know if referenced the military cameras specially. The camera was purchased recently at the Tucson Camera Show. The gentleman that I purchased it from said he bought it from an estate which belonged to a German doctor. I am very much in the process of learning more about this camera as I go along. I put it On E-bay with a fairly high reserve,Which I am reluctant to divulge at this time, In the hopes of getting some feedback/info. on the item.I am hoping to catch the eye of someone who really knows about military cameras,and especially about this one. I have been in the camera collector buying and selling business for over 20 years. I have seen many rare cameras. I have seen many faked military and non military cameras. If this one's a fake, It took a master to do it, and then for that alone would be valuable. But I seriously doubt it's a fake.
If you have any information,I would appreciate you sharing it with me.
Thanks very much for your interest.
Sincerely,
Ixxx

The collector replies

Ixxx
Thanks for the information. I've seen 35mm Exakta lenses with military markings but no cameras (I have 2). They were also M "marine" marked. I've spoken to a major Exakta collector in Germany that I know very well about this camera and he does not know of another.
One thing that bothers me is the quality of the engraving detail on the lens. The 2 lenses I have and the others I've seen have the same detail as the camera engraving (eagle wings are clearly defined) where as the lens you have appears to have much less detail in the wings. Thanks again
Gxxx

Other email messages between them

Thanks for the information.could you email me a photo of the eagle on the lens? This could be good news or bad. The fact that your friend does not know of another. If indeed it is the real thing then it's even more rare and valuable than I thought. And if it's not , then it's still worth at least as much as is listed in McKeowns book. Again , I have to stress the fact that I have seen a lot of fakes with theses kind of marks, but this camera looks different in many ways.I cannot explain the detail on the wings though, or the lack of. I appreciate all the info .

Here's a photo of my 5cm f2 Xenon in 35mm Exakta mount, you can see the detail in the wings of the eagle. I have a 4cm Tessar as well with the same detail and I have photos of 2 other lenses with the same detailed engraving. Even on the camera body the eagle is different, there's not the fine lines in the wings or the short vertical line at the bottom. Also there is not a small M directly under or beside the eagle, which all the lenses have before the larger M and number. I'm afraid at the moment I'm thinking it could be a fake, let me know if you find any information to suggest otherwise. Thanks
Gxxx

Hello Again Gxxx, Well it looks like I'm going to blow a hole through your theory.I have just gone through some of my leica books.Get Ready. The Exakta I have was manuf. in 1938, prior to the war. I hold in my hands , Lagers leica book showing a vast array of engravings of the "Reichsadler" the earliest one is 1939 with an engraving of the eagle Identical to the one thats on my Exakta. The M on the others vary. Some are like yours and some are like mine with similar lettering and numbering. There was no order to it. Mine happen to be some of the earliest engravings. What year were your lenses produced? That seems to make a huge difference. some have M below it some do not. I think were going to have to go a different rout. I am getting more and more convinced that mine is authentic. Looking forward to your ideas.
Ixxx

Another collector writes :

One very important thing I want to say is that in no way I doubt about the honestity of the person that has put on sale this quite interesting item. I have summarized my feeling in two parts: in favor that it is authentic, and against it.
Against it:
Why a 6 x 6 military camera? The quality, form and size of the eagle engravings. I believe military engravings were done in more discreet places than in a blatantly front of ditto camera. I believe the aluminiunm (?) plate on the back of the camera case is some sort of overkill. Looks to new on the photo.
In favor:
Why not a 6 x 6 military camera? The camera has a speciall shutter button accesory (Flieger button). It was used in cold weather, when you should wear handgloves. Seems quite logical. The engraving on the lens is exactly in the same discreet place the other military lenses we know are engraved.
I do not know, but that plate in the camera case worries me. I suppose a closer look would solve some of the doubts. A good macro shot of the eagle would be nice too. (VS)

The first collector wrote to me:

I think the military camera is original, after at first thinking it might not be

In the meanwhile a German collector wrote:

Not easy to say, wether it is a fake or not. The chances, that it might be genuine are quite good, I think.