First collapsible Summicron 5cm SN?

[fuchs]

Hi to all.
I was wondering if anyone knows at which serial number did the collapsible screwmount Summicron 5cm production started.
My Ghester Sartorius book (Carta d'identità degli obiettivi Leica) states an imprecise "approx 920.000", but I am looking for a more precise start number.

Thanks in advance

Eduardo Albesi

[LeicaTom]

Eduardo,

Getting a precise production number might be a bit of a problem now, because the Leitz archives have been locked and will remain closed to public access for an indefinite period
(the new CEO has put it all in Lock Down very sad news for anyone who`s doing research)
*I`m doing research for a book project about Leica IIIC`s*
...... and this situation has really placed a damper on things and has put a halt to my serial number and historical research, while sadly no one has any information out about the era of cameras I`m researching, not even Leica Historian Jim Lager..........

I do know that #920000 is a very good number to go by, while the oldest known surviving production lens is #920026

I`ve personally owned lenses in the #92xxxx and #98xxxx serial number ranges from these "Radioactive" 50 Crons

I`d be safe to say if anything turns up made BEFORE #920000 it`s a prototype lens

Tom

[fuchs]

Hi Tom,
Some time ago there was a page on Leica's website where there was a form to identify Leica cameras and lenses by their SN. With a bit of effort, it was possible to go back to the first "official" specimen of a searched item. But now that page is not available anymore, in line with the new 'lock up' policy it seems.
My earliest radioactive 5cm is a 9210XX.

Thanks a lot

Ed
PS: I'd love to see your book about the IIIc's. I have three or four post war, a 1945 "half race" and a couple red curtains, one of them with a re-chromed top plate, FI contract number and ground off Luftwaffen Eigentum.

[luigi bertolotti]

Originally Posted by LeicaTom

Eduardo,

Getting a precise production number might be a bit of a problem now, because the Leitz archives have been locked and will remain closed to public access for an indefinite period
(the new CEO has put it all in Lock Down very sad news for anyone who`s doing research)
*I`m doing research for a book project about Leica IIIC`s*
...... and this situation has really placed a damper on things and has put a halt to my serial number and historical research, while sadly no one has any information out about the era of cameras I`m researching, not even Leica Historian Jim Lager..........

I do know that #920000 is a very good number to go by, while the oldest known surviving production lens is #920026

I`ve personally owned lenses in the #92xxxx and #98xxxx serial number ranges from these "Radioactive" 50 Crons

I`d be safe to say if anything turns up made BEFORE #920000 it`s a prototype lens

Tom

Uhm... are you sure about 920.026 ? Years ago (1999) I took note (if they didn't mistake in typing) that Leicashop of Wien had for sale 920.008 ... At that times their "for sale" were simply excel sheets and I saved them for the record... I still have a number of them (interesting some prices of that years... in 1999 also, a Noctilux f1 for 1580 US$, and in 2000, an Hologon for 8400 US$)

[fuchs]

So it looks the Sartorius figure of 920000 might be not that imprecise after all....

Thanks

Ed

[eyedeebee]

Given the significant amount of info that's already in the public domain, what would be the justification/reasoning for the CEO insisting on a "lock down"?

[luigi bertolotti]

Originally Posted by eyedeebee

Given the significant amount of info that's already in the public domain, what would be the justification/reasoning for the CEO insisting on a "lock down"?

Maybe he's simply a businessman... thinking that giving for FREE infos that Leica lovers/historicians have acquired for years visiting Wetzlar and Solms is stupid... maybe he's thinking of a luxury copyrighted reprint of old Leica factory records... to be sold at the right PRICE... Personally, I hope is not so...