Notifications
Clear all

Does this leica gear look fake?

12 Posts
7 Users
0 Reactions
4 Views
(@fobos8)
Posts: 192
Registered
Topic starter
 

Hi guys just bought a traverse kit on fleebay and its looks a bit dodgy to me. See what you think?

20180122 193932
20180122 193522
20180122 193500
20180122 195102

There is no "leica" label on the carrier and the print stamp of the part number looks a bit crappy. Also there were two tribrachs in the kit and both have the same serial number. See the picture. Is Leica gear manufactured in Singapore now? I always thought it was made in Switzerland.

The prisms don't look too bad apart from the misplaced sticker in the arrow.

Cheers, Andrew

 
Posted : January 22, 2018 11:54 am
(@johnson5144)
Posts: 147
Registered
 

You can validate original accessories from Leica Geosystems. Take a look here:?ÿ http://accessories.leica-geosystems.com/en/Original-Accessories_105361.htm?ÿ

 
Posted : January 22, 2018 12:54 pm
(@fobos8)
Posts: 192
Registered
Topic starter
 

this gear didn't come in the cardboard boxes so there are no codes that I can check. It came in a Leica red box and was second hand. I think the fact that both tribrachs have the same serial number is dodgy.

 
Posted : January 22, 2018 1:10 pm
(@va-ls-2867)
Posts: 513
Registered
 

Are you talking about the 725566 number, that?ÿ is the model "order" number not a serial number

 
Posted : January 22, 2018 2:09 pm
(@fobos8)
Posts: 192
Registered
Topic starter
 

No I'm talking about the tribrachs. Both of them in the kit have the same serial (s-nr) number. This should be unique

 
Posted : January 22, 2018 2:26 pm
(@kjypls)
Posts: 303
Customer
 

Do you have a gram scale? I can compare the weight of your gear with genuine Leica articles (tomorrow) if that helps.?ÿ

Initial thoughts:

-The prism carrier looks OK from your shot. They do not have labels that I have ever seen.

-The tribrach looks pretty decent, but the sticker looks a little different than I remember. And, I didn't think the 321 was made in Singapore. Again, I can check tomorrow with the office gear.

-The prism target plate is very suspect, so the rest of the assembly may be as well. Real GPR121 prisms don't have a yellow overlay over any white.

 
Posted : January 22, 2018 4:04 pm
(@a-harris)
Posts: 8761
 

Everything has been reversed engineered and retooled with lesser quality materials.

They work on the same principals as the OEM versions.

Better than nothing and will last long enough to allow you to afford the real thing.

 
Posted : January 22, 2018 6:17 pm
(@fobos8)
Posts: 192
Registered
Topic starter
 

tribrach weighs 758g, carrier 636g, and prism 570g

cheers, Andrew

 
Posted : January 23, 2018 2:18 am
(@kjypls)
Posts: 303
Customer
 

After comparing photos of your stuff vs known real stuff, I'd say the tribrach and prism carrier are most likely legit, but the prism assembly is not (That target plate is just not right, so the rest probably isn't either).

?ÿ

S.Nr on the 321 tribrachs are not unique. I have looked at four this morning and they are all the same. Also, made in Singapore.

For what it's worth, average weights from multiple measurements +/- a gram:

?ÿ

GPR121 = 566

GZR103 = 632

GDF321 = 763

?ÿ

Weights differences are pretty equal around 4g between our measurements, so scale error or whatever. Like I said, for what it's worth 🙂

 
Posted : January 23, 2018 4:34 am
 jph
(@jph)
Posts: 2332
Registered
 

Leica gear is/was made in Switzerland, Singapore, and now even China.?ÿ It is what it is.?ÿ

Luckily, prism setups/targets don't have electronics and the moving parts and OP can be checked for alignment and accuracy easily.

Bought lots of brand name gear on that site 2003-2006.?ÿ I don't know if I'd trust it now, with any confidence that I was getting the real deal.

 
Posted : January 23, 2018 5:02 am
(@fobos8)
Posts: 192
Registered
Topic starter
 

thanks guys. I've checked the optical plummets against a gzr3 that I know to be bang on and they are out by about a mm or 2.

 
Posted : January 23, 2018 1:00 pm
(@bill93)
Posts: 9834
 
Posted by: fobos8

thanks guys. I've checked the optical plummets against a gzr3 that I know to be bang on and they are out by about a mm or 2.

Aren't they adjustable??ÿ Do a calibration on both the level and OP.

 
Posted : January 23, 2018 1:41 pm