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Fake or real Berning Robot

Posted: Thu Aug 30, 2018 4:10 pm
by fbsgfoto
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.

Re: Fake or real Berning Robot

Posted: Sat Sep 01, 2018 6:03 am
by box86rowh
I would have no clue how to figure this out but I would try the Westlicht auction as they have many experts who could give you their opinion.

Re: Fake or real Berning Robot

Posted: Sat Sep 01, 2018 7:50 am
by mauro.corneo
Hello, see if it can serve you :?:
Best Regards Mauro
http://corsopolaris.net/supercameras/robot/robot1a.html

Re: Fake or real Berning Robot

Posted: Sat Sep 01, 2018 9:08 am
by fbsgfoto
Hi Mauro, thanks for the info, I known him and I talk with him previously about it. He thinks he is a fake and put me in contact which a German expert who told me that the engraving was not made in Berning Robot factory. That’s why I think it could possibly be made by the Italian Air Force lately and that is why I contacted with the Italian historic museum requesting for any information about cameras purchased during WWII for the Regia Aeronautica. I really hope they could find anything. I will keep you informed.

This is my inventory, more yet to come: http://collectiblend.com/Cameras/mycameras.php

Re: Fake or real Berning Robot

Posted: Sat Sep 01, 2018 9:13 am
by fbsgfoto
Hi Box, thanks for your advice, let’s see what they can figure out

Re: Fake or real Berning Robot

Posted: Mon Sep 03, 2018 2:50 pm
by diser
Was the German expert mr.Beltermann by any chance?

Re: Fake or real Berning Robot

Posted: Tue Sep 04, 2018 2:38 am
by fbsgfoto
Hi Diser, I first emailed to Rolf Beltermann and Michael Ensel from http://www.robot-camera.de. They confirmed me that according to the serial number this camera, a mixture of military and civilian code, was built for military reporters. Rolf also thinks this engraving colud be valid as exist some with different engravings.
I also emailed Massimo Bertachi from http://www.corsopolaris.net. He doubts about the camera and the engraving. He thinks this could be a fake engravement. He contacted another Robot expert, Hans Grahner who confirmed that this moder due to its serial number was built for military purposes but the R. Aeronautica Engraving was not made by Robot, that was made letter by letter and could be fake.

That´s why I´m searching information from the Italian Air Force Historic Archives.

Re: Fake or real Berning Robot

Posted: Sat Dec 21, 2019 9:00 am
by mistermondo
Hi I have another Robot Regia Aeronautica here the pictures of the camera and the lens
Schermata 2019-12-21 alle 16.56.59.png
Schermata 2019-12-21 alle 16.55.31.png
Schermata 2019-12-21 alle 16.55.02.png

Re: Fake or real Berning Robot

Posted: Tue Dec 24, 2019 5:29 am
by fbsgfoto
Congratulations again, please keep me informed of whatever they tell you about the camera. I assume yo read all the research I did, at last the Historic Archive of the Italian Air Force contacted me to tell me that they did not have any information of cameras purchased for war purposes, specifically Robots.

Thanks for sharing your discovery and merry Christmas.

Fernando

Re: Fake or real Berning Robot

Posted: Wed Dec 25, 2019 10:56 am
by diser
fbsgfoto, mistermondo, would you mind sharing the purchase price and date, please?