Production Run's

[seawolf66]

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Why Did Leitz do so many production run's on their cameras such as in 1936 in one group camera model [ III ] there is over 40 groups of production runs! such as 1st group was 184401-184450 and the next group starts at 184701-184750 Etc,Etc,Etc.

 

New to this Leitz Leica thing It started with my odd ball Summarit lens serial # 491956 50mm F-1.5 well you guessed it now a Leica camera serial # 184703 with a Summar serial # 449960 50mm F-3.5

 

I hope this is it as they one should own at least one Leica in their life time : [LOL]

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[ismon]

I last toured the Wetzlar factory again forty years ago. I'm not sure I would call it a factory so much as a workshop on steroids. Master craftsmen of every description working individually--in unison. Leitz wasn't a camera company. it was a Optical company that (sometimes) built cameras. Nowhere near the huge operation as the folks in Japan, Leitz evoked the sense of a familial operation, focused on their reputation for quality. Against that backround, I was amazed that as some point production stopped, the decks were cleared, and the next project was begun. The switch from rangefinder to reflex to lenses to projectors, enlargers, all of the countless accessories, then back to Microscopes and optical measuring equipment (where the REAL money is) would make Santa's helpers nuts! It's no wonder that I had to wait for almost a year for a special enlarging easel (they wouldn't get those in the rotation schedule for a while). Back in the 30's camera and lens production were likely at the mercy of larger considerations. You would get what you could get, when you could get it; and then as now feel secure in the knowledge that it was well worth waiting for.

(And it's difficult to own only one.)

[seawolf66]

I last toured the Wetzlar factory again forty years ago. I'm not sure I would call it a factory so much as a workshop on steroids. Master craftsmen of every description working individually--in unison. Leitz wasn't a camera company. it was a Optical company that (sometimes) built cameras. Nowhere near the huge operation as the folks in Japan, Leitz evoked the sense of a familial operation, focused on their reputation for quality. Against that backround, I was amazed that as some point production stopped, the decks were cleared, and the next project was begun. The switch from rangefinder to reflex to lenses to projectors, enlargers, all of the countless accessories, then back to Microscopes and optical measuring equipment (where the REAL money is) would make Santa's helpers nuts! It's no wonder that I had to wait for almost a year for a special enlarging easel (they wouldn't get those in the rotation schedule for a while). Back in the 30's camera and lens production were likely at the mercy of larger considerations. You would get what you could get, when you could get it; and then as now feel secure in the knowledge that it was well worth waiting for.

(And it's difficult to own only one.)

 

Now that makes sense with those type of production runs,

 

(And it's difficult to own only one.)

I believe you very much ,but I can Pray can I not [LOL]

 

and thanks for your time and Information: seawolf66

[luigi bertolotti]

Now that makes sense with those type of production runs,

 

(And it's difficult to own only one.)

I believe you very much ,but I can Pray can I not [LOL]

 

and thanks for your time and Information: seawolf66

 

You CAN NOT have only one, simply: basic rule is that one that encounters in his life that "Leitz Leica thing" , must have AT LEAST :

- A screwmount model with Elmar 5cm 3,5

- A M-mount model with Summicron 50

... and is difficult not to go beyond this... ... expecially when one starts to wonder something about production runs - batches - serial numbers... there's all a mystic about Leitz numbers and consequences can be terrible...

[Xmas]

I believe you very much ,but I can Pray can I not [LOL]

 

and thanks for your time and Information: seawolf66

 

You CAN NOT have only one, simply: basic rule is that one that encounters in his life that "Leitz Leica thing" , must have AT LEAST :

- A screwmount model with Elmar 5cm 3,5

- A M-mount model with Summicron 50

... and is difficult not to go beyond this... ... expecially when one starts to wonder something about production runs - batches - serial numbers... there's all a mystic about Leitz numbers and consequences can be terrible...

 

The problem arises when your M2 with 35mm lux breaks a (shutter) ribbon and you need to send it off for repair, when it comes back you have to explain that you needed another so you now have two M2, and one lux 35mm.

 

substitute 3 or 4 or whatever for 2

 

Note It is not abnormal for Japanese factories, e.g. motorcycle manufacturers, to work on small production batches.

 

Noel

[seawolf66]

I last toured the Wetzlar factory again forty years ago. I'm not sure I would call it a factory so much as a workshop on steroids. Master craftsmen of every description working individually--in unison. Leitz wasn't a camera company. it was a Optical company that (sometimes) built cameras. Nowhere near the huge operation as the folks in Japan, Leitz evoked the sense of a familial operation, focused on their reputation for quality. Against that backround, I was amazed that as some point production stopped, the decks were cleared, and the next project was begun. The switch from rangefinder to reflex to lenses to projectors, enlargers, all of the countless accessories, then back to Microscopes and optical measuring equipment (where the REAL money is) would make Santa's helpers nuts! It's no wonder that I had to wait for almost a year for a special enlarging easel (they wouldn't get those in the rotation schedule for a while). Back in the 30's camera and lens production were likely at the mercy of larger considerations. You would get what you could get, when you could get it; and then as now feel secure in the knowledge that it was well worth waiting for.

(And it's difficult to own only one.)

 

Well I guess your very right Just got a basket 1937 Leica # 239090 with a Summar Lens # 346988 -50mm F:2 along with a Steinheil Munchen Culminar `1:2.8 F=85mm

VL #825796 so that first lens I got got brothers and sisters real fast : Thanks for the help folks: