Re: [Leica] Different Engavings on M4-P

[John Collier <jbcollier@home.com>]

There are two different types of engravings on the M4-P because there are
two different top plates for the M4-P. Most of the production used a brass
top plate but when the M6 was introduced they shared a common zinc composite
top plate. There were several different versions of engravings on the M4-2
but all use a brass top plate. There are far more of the brass M4-P cameras
but the zinc ones are not considered rare (yet). For a "light" introduction
to all this silliness try: "Identifying Leica Cameras" by Ghester Sartorius
but if you are really crazy for minutia then go for the excellent James
Lagar books.

John Collier

> From: Robb Williamson <Williamsonimages@compuserve.com>
> Date: Tue, 25 Jan 2000 00:46:21 -0500
> <leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us>
> Subject: [Leica] Different Engavings on M4-P
>  
> I have seen the engraving on the Leica M4-P's front done in two types or
> 'boldness' of text.  One is like the current M-6 engraving which I prefer
> and the other is a thinner fine-line mark.  Two questions:
> 
> Does this difference also occur on the Canadian M4-2 or other German Leica
> cameras?
> 
> Does anyone know the reason for the distinctly different text types and if
> there are more produced of one type or another?  I have seen numerous
> examples of both types in the Leica M books and on the web (ebay, etc.)