Fake or real Berning Robot
Posted: Thu Aug 30, 2018 4:10 pm
A couple of months ago I’ve purchased a Berning Robot II withe. 75mm Schneider lens. On its back it has engraved “R. Aeronautica” which referees to the WWII Italian Air Force and Its serial number is B45357-5. I’ve asked some Berning Robot experts and some think that due to the civilian/military mixed serial number, this model could have been one for Italian military reporters. The main point of discussion and disagreement arise with the “R. Aeronautica” engraving. As it was done letter by letter and not by Berning Robot workers and as nobody have yet heard about such cameras it must be forged. I’ve also contacted a Belgium Leica collector that decades ago discovered the Regia Aeronautica Leicas and told me that during his research could see that the Italian government bought some other cameras and maybe this one could be legit. I’ve contacted the Italian Air Force and have told me that they will look for this information but I am still waiting for the information.
My theory, or what I want to believe. I bought this camera near a military airbase in Madrid, Spain and it belonged to a retired soldier, so the army connection has narrow ties. Maybe this camera was brought by a Genovese photographic importer named Cattaneo that previously suppied the Italian Airforces with Leicas, maybe he also sold them some Berning Robots II and the Regia Aeronautica or Cattaneo himself engraved it because what is the point of forge a namers nobody asked for.
Well I post a couple of pics in case anybody could help me to figure out if at last the is a real or a Fake militar Berning Robot.
My theory, or what I want to believe. I bought this camera near a military airbase in Madrid, Spain and it belonged to a retired soldier, so the army connection has narrow ties. Maybe this camera was brought by a Genovese photographic importer named Cattaneo that previously suppied the Italian Airforces with Leicas, maybe he also sold them some Berning Robots II and the Regia Aeronautica or Cattaneo himself engraved it because what is the point of forge a namers nobody asked for.
Well I post a couple of pics in case anybody could help me to figure out if at last the is a real or a Fake militar Berning Robot.