edmond_terakopian Posted April 9, 2014 Share #1 Posted April 9, 2014 Advertisement (gone after registration) Greetings All, I finally bought myself an M3; have wanted one for years and found one at a good price, so went for it. It's a user and I intend to shoot with it and have some fun. It's from 1960 and has the following scratched into the rear, on the chrome, to the right of the sync sockets: "E5832 647001 2312" I know this is a long shot, but would anyone have an idea what this is? I'm guessing it belonged to some company who hand engraved / scratched, numbers into their gear. I'd really be interested in seeing if it was anything of interest! Any thoughts would be appreciated. Cheers, Edmond Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted April 9, 2014 Posted April 9, 2014 Hi edmond_terakopian, Take a look here Leica M3 Mystery "engraving". I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
sabears Posted April 9, 2014 Share #2 Posted April 9, 2014 Photo please... cheers 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
edmond_terakopian Posted April 9, 2014 Author Share #3 Posted April 9, 2014 Here you go :-) Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Quote Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/224943-leica-m3-mystery-engraving/?do=findComment&comment=2565397'>More sharing options...
250swb Posted April 9, 2014 Share #4 Posted April 9, 2014 Somebody's National Insurance (or equivalent depending on location) number? It's a very long number so it must be associated with a vast set of data. Steve 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
luigi bertolotti Posted April 9, 2014 Share #5 Posted April 9, 2014 (edited) I'd say it is of no interest in historical terms... ... just a bad scratching surely not factory original... some "professional" owners (persons or public/private entities) did use to identify this way their cameras : I saw a MD owned by a local Hospital with a "inventory" number engraved on the back, but well done, even if with "alien" fonts. Even if it is not disturbing in user terms, in case one day you'll need a CLA, I'd even consider to find a spare original M3 top, which is not impossible to find. Edited April 9, 2014 by luigi bertolotti 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
edmond_terakopian Posted April 10, 2014 Author Share #6 Posted April 10, 2014 Thanks chaps. I was hopeful perhaps someone might recognise what the number types might be and although very DIY, it could have an interesting story! Who knows?!! Cheers, Edmond Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
luigi bertolotti Posted April 10, 2014 Share #7 Posted April 10, 2014 Advertisement (gone after registration) Thanks chaps. I was hopeful perhaps someone might recognise what the number types might be and although very DIY, it could have an interesting story! Who knows?!! Cheers, Edmond Time ago, for a similar question (odd number hand-engraved on a M leather case,iirc) I speculated it could be the telephone number of some nice interesting girl/model... ... who could be worth to re-contact even if 50 years around have passed... 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
edmond_terakopian Posted April 10, 2014 Author Share #8 Posted April 10, 2014 Time ago, for a similar question (odd number hand-engraved on a M leather case,iirc) I speculated it could be the telephone number of some nice interesting girl/model... ... who could be worth to re-contact even if 50 years around have passed... One never knows!!! :-D Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
250swb Posted April 10, 2014 Share #9 Posted April 10, 2014 It has to be Einstein's camera, and the only place he had to note the answer to a previously un-solvable equation. Probably not worth much Steve 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
edmond_terakopian Posted April 10, 2014 Author Share #10 Posted April 10, 2014 It has to be Einstein's camera, and the only place he had to note the answer to a previously un-solvable equation. Probably not worth much Steve LOL!!! Love the theory and as far as I'm concerned, you're absolutely right! It must be the formula that answers the meaning of life!! Edmond :-D Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
masjah Posted April 10, 2014 Share #11 Posted April 10, 2014 It has to be Einstein's camera, and the only place he had to note the answer to a previously un-solvable equation. Probably not worth much Steve .... I never really believed it was 42. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wda Posted April 10, 2014 Share #12 Posted April 10, 2014 My guess is that it originally belonged to corporate ownership, as many did, and this was their internal inventory reference. They would not have considered future values. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
edmond_terakopian Posted April 10, 2014 Author Share #13 Posted April 10, 2014 .... I never really believed it was 42. I make it 44!?! Ok, so E=MC2 is not quite right; in fact it's, E=44!! Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dennersten Posted April 10, 2014 Share #14 Posted April 10, 2014 The last 10 figures could be the Swedish company identification number system. Unfortunatley no company has that number right now. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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