Fake or real Berning Robot

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fbsgfoto
Posts: 58
Joined: Mon Mar 12, 2018 3:53 pm

Fake or real Berning Robot

Postby fbsgfoto » 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.
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4F02D278-3A91-4B7D-B535-099EEF4DF55F.jpeg
This is my inventory, more yet to come: http://collectiblend.com/Cameras/mycamp ... p?uid=4982

box86rowh
Posts: 158
Joined: Thu Aug 10, 2017 12:24 pm

Re: Fake or real Berning Robot

Postby box86rowh » Sat Sep 01, 2018 6:03 am

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.

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mauro.corneo
Posts: 213
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Location: Italy
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Re: Fake or real Berning Robot

Postby mauro.corneo » Sat Sep 01, 2018 7:50 am

Hello, see if it can serve you :?:
Best Regards Mauro
http://corsopolaris.net/supercameras/robot/robot1a.html

fbsgfoto
Posts: 58
Joined: Mon Mar 12, 2018 3:53 pm

Re: Fake or real Berning Robot

Postby fbsgfoto » Sat Sep 01, 2018 9:08 am

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
Last edited by fbsgfoto on Sat Sep 01, 2018 9:21 am, edited 1 time in total.
This is my inventory, more yet to come: http://collectiblend.com/Cameras/mycamp ... p?uid=4982

fbsgfoto
Posts: 58
Joined: Mon Mar 12, 2018 3:53 pm

Re: Fake or real Berning Robot

Postby fbsgfoto » Sat Sep 01, 2018 9:13 am

Hi Box, thanks for your advice, let’s see what they can figure out
This is my inventory, more yet to come: http://collectiblend.com/Cameras/mycamp ... p?uid=4982

diser
Site Admin
Posts: 1287
Joined: Mon Jan 28, 2008 12:32 pm
Location: Denver, Colorado

Re: Fake or real Berning Robot

Postby diser » Mon Sep 03, 2018 2:50 pm

Was the German expert mr.Beltermann by any chance?

fbsgfoto
Posts: 58
Joined: Mon Mar 12, 2018 3:53 pm

Re: Fake or real Berning Robot

Postby fbsgfoto » Tue Sep 04, 2018 2:38 am

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.
This is my inventory, more yet to come: http://collectiblend.com/Cameras/mycamp ... p?uid=4982

mistermondo
Posts: 4
Joined: Wed Feb 13, 2013 12:02 pm

Re: Fake or real Berning Robot

Postby mistermondo » Sat Dec 21, 2019 9:00 am

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

fbsgfoto
Posts: 58
Joined: Mon Mar 12, 2018 3:53 pm

Re: Fake or real Berning Robot

Postby fbsgfoto » Tue Dec 24, 2019 5:29 am

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
This is my inventory, more yet to come: http://collectiblend.com/Cameras/mycamp ... p?uid=4982

diser
Site Admin
Posts: 1287
Joined: Mon Jan 28, 2008 12:32 pm
Location: Denver, Colorado

Re: Fake or real Berning Robot

Postby diser » Wed Dec 25, 2019 10:56 am

fbsgfoto, mistermondo, would you mind sharing the purchase price and date, please?


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