Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1995/11/25

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To: fred@csgi.com
Subject: Re: Let's hear it from the old-timers
From: corkflor@iol.ie (Alex Hurst)
Date: Sat, 25 Nov 1995 14:48:03 +0000
Cc: leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us

>Alex, perhaps this will give you some info on your screw-mount Leica.
>
>I just went to the cabinet and picked up my Model E (Standard), #296703.  I
>have owned it for nearly 30 years. It has no rangefinder and has the 3.5
>Elmar.   What I know about them is this:  they were made between 1933-1940
>and carried the serial numbers between 100,000 and 360,000. Mine with the
>296703 number was estimated the last time I checked with Leitz at 1936-1937.
>
>I hope this helps.   I once had one numbered in the 170000s and it was stolen
>in the 1960s. Mine was estimated at the time as being made perhaps around
>1934-35.   Who knows.
>Fred
>
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Fred -

Thanks for the info. The consensus among the many kind people who replied
seems to be 1935 - so your estimate was on the button.

I note you say you got it out of your cabinet. But do you still use it?
Just as nature abhors a vacuum, old Leicas undoubtedly deteriorate with
disuse.

Quite a few people have said they couldn't get on with the rangefinder
system on the III series. I think we're all forgetting what a major step
forward this was when it was first introduced. If Cartier-Bresson was happy
with his when capturing those decisive moments, who are we to argue. Mind
you, he probably never bothered with the rangefinder anyway, and I note
that the grand old man in a recent documentary was shown using an AF
compact. I do too when I'm feeling lazy - an AF-CI which they were
remaindering in London a few years ago.

In any case, if you have to work a bit harder with an old camera to get
outstanding results, that's all part of the fun.

Slan

Alex

Alex Hurst
Cork Florists
19 Winthrop St, Cork
Republic of Ireland
Tel: +353 21 270 907
Fax: +353 21 271 248
email: corkflor@iol.ie