Back in September 2021 I began travelling again after many restrictions were lifted following a difficult time during the first two years of the Covid 19 pandemic. Although we had booked many flights, all of these were cancelled before we eventually got to travel.
When I found myself in Prague, one of my favourite cities in the world, I began to re-explore this beautiful city in the Czech Republic. Within walking distance of Wenceslas Square there are some fine camera shops where you may find some gems from the Soviet era along with other classic cameras from around the world. I'm practically a regular in these shops on my visits to Prague and some of the staff recognise me when I enter, even after a break in travel for a couple of years.
Whilst browsing the collections I spotted a beautiful Leica ii Mod D, the first of the coupled rangefinder cameras from the Leitz company, which sat beautifully on a red cushioned display stand.
As I gazed through the glass case I just had to ask for more information about this camera. The salesman took the camera down from the display and carefully handed it to me. On further inspection I noted the serial number, this was a first batch model from February 1932 in black paint with nickel coated dials and subtle brassing around the edges, it also had a Summar 5cm f2 lens. The camera came with really interesting provenance. The owner of this camera had passed away some years earlier and the camera remained with his wife, at 100 years old she was moving to a care home and was selling off some of her belongings, this camera was amongst those belongings. It transpired her husband, the owner of this camera had owned the camera for a very long time before he passed. He was attached to the 310 Squadron at RAF Duxford in England, a crack Spitfire and Hurricane fighter squadron made up of Czechoslovakian pilots who, after Germany invaded their country, went to England in order to fight the Germans. After the war the cameras owner left the RAF and returned home, he then became a merchant sailor where his ships sailed from Germany delivering supplies around the world. The camera remained in his possession until he passed away, and now it rested carefully in my hands, with me wondering if I should buy it.
I put the camera back on the counter, still unsure if I should buy it, and knowing it would need a full service. The sales assistant asked how long I was staying in Prague on this visit, it was a Tuesday and I told him I was there until Sunday, he placed the camera into a box and told me he would keep it aside for me until midday on Friday, if I didn't return by then it would go back on sale. I then left the shop.
I thought about the camera but no more so than the following day when myself and Angie set about exploring parts of Prague we hadn't visited on previous visits. We went to the Prague Technical Museum and when we entered the large hall I couldn't believe my eyes when I seen on display, a Spitfire fighter plane from the 310 Czechoslovakia Squadron RAF Duxford. Was this a sign?
Over the next couple of days we met up with friends and enjoyed our holiday, I was happily shooting away with my Leica M6, so I guess I didn't really need another Leica..
On the Friday morning Angie asked if I was going to buy the camera, I figured I wasn't, even with such amazing history to go with it, Angie asked if I would regret not buying it if, after we arrived home, I had left it in the shop, I said I would regret it, right said Angie, let's go to the shop.
As we walked through the shop the sales assistant spotted me, he went to the back and brought the camera to me, I looked at it again and told him I'm buying it. We haggled a little over the price because the camera needed a service, I told him my friend back in Dublin, Noel Young, was the best Leica service and repair person in Ireland and he would service it. The camera was wrapped up, I handed over my Czech Koruna cash and shook hands. This prized find in Prague was coming home to Ireland with me.
Dublin. Leica ii Mod D, Kodak Tmax 400
Some time after I returned home I made contact with Noel telling him about my find and to see if he could fit my new Leica into his busy schedule, Noel told me his health hadn't been great of late and it could be a while before he could service the camera, I didn't mind waiting, I was in no hurry, Noel was the best in the game and well worth waiting for. I put the camera in my display cabinet until Noel was well enough to work on it.
Noel Young. Rolleiflex T, Ilford HP5
Noel's health deteriorated, we kept in touch and chatted about Leica cameras and all things photography. In October 2022 I visited Noel at home where I brought this old 1932 Leica to show him, he smiled as he held it. We also discovered this Leica was in the same batch as Robert Capa's first Leica, another very interesting piece in the history of this camera. Noel told me me this camera needed to be used and asked me to promise him I would send it to someone reputable to have it serviced, I gave him my word. The following week Noel passed away.
A couple of weeks after Noel's funeral I was looking at the camera, I made contact with Aperture in London, England. I spoke to Aperture about the camera, its history, and what it needed to make it usable again. I packaged the camera up and arranged to have it shipped to London. Thanks to my photographer friend Arron Kirwan who arranged the shipping, since Brexit it has been very difficult to do business with UK based companies. It was serviced by Aperture and shipped back to me where I loaded a roll of Kodak Tmax 400 and took a ramble about my home city of Dublin.
I am very happy with the results from the first roll I've shot with this camera, I think about the history it has captured in the ninety one years since it was manufactured. The camera feels new, a testament to the quality and build of Leica cameras.
Dedicated to the memory of Noel P. Young, friend, photographer, Leica specialist.
©Jim Leonard
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