Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2002/03/04
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]At 08:07 PM 3/4/02 -0800, Gary Todoroff wrote: >The serial number >is 700721. Since the M3 started with 700000, this was probably in Wetzlar's >very first batch of production bodies, certainly within the first month of >manufacture. > >The lens has to be one of Leica's earliest bayonet mounts, too - Summicron >50/2 SN 1117231, which puts it into 1953 production numbers. Sure is one >special camera. Lord willing, I think I'll keep it to celebrate its 50th >birthday in just a couple of years! Gary There is a cachet on the "first ten thousand" M3's, especially in Europe. My first M3 was 704523, and I sold it for a nice bit when we parted ways, even though it was a beater. A nuimber of 2/5cm Summicrons with serial numbers below 1,000,000 are known to exist, though these are a bit of an anomaly. These have been discussed over the years in both VIEWFINDER and VIDOM. I own a late DS which has been retrofitted with the DOF notches, and this is one camera that they will pry from my dead, cold hands. Marc msmall@roanoke.infi.net FAX: +276/343-7315 Cha robh bąs fir gun ghrąs fir! - -- To unsubscribe, see http://mejac.palo-alto.ca.us/leica-users/unsub.html