LEICA Barnack Berek Blog: A GENUINE LEICA FOR $88.00

Recently I was able to add an old Leica pricelist from 1928 to my collection and it struck me as interesting that a whole Leica, Model A at that, used to sell for just $88.00. Of course in today’s dollars, the price would be substantially higher.

Unfortunately, the pricelist has suffered quite a bit over the years. I have reproduced it here in its current condition, including the yellowed and in some places stained appearance.

An interesting item to note is that the script of the Leica logo, as we know it today, was not used in those days and obviously, E. Leitz, Inc. as Leica was called then, has moved a few times since. Another interesting fact is that Leitz did not distribute their equipment nationwide. Instead the brochure states that the company of Spindler & Sauppe was the agent for the western states with offices in San Francisco and Los Angeles. Apparently the common description of 35mm film was not in use at that time either, instead the camera is referred to as a pocket roll film camera using standard cinema film.

Times have changed.