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Is this Authentic ??


Guest henjenn

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Guest henjenn

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Hello everyone. I have this M3 with the box. I see the M3's serial number is written on the bottom of the box in ink. Is this a method Leica used for labeling boxes sometimes? At first I assumed that the previous owner just wrote it on the box............. but then I saw a similar box on ebay with the serial # written in ink also. Picture of my box is on left and ebay box on the right. Notice how the ebay box numbers are written very uniquely. So now Im wondering if this is how Leica labeled the box once in awhile. Like on those days when they ran out of labels and they were all drinking beer and they were too lazy to run to go get some..... they just said "screw it, lets write it in das pen till we get das labels"

 

Any thoughts?

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Leica boxes indeed used to have a hand written serial number on their bottom but, your box does not seem to have been marked by the factory. First of all, the number '7', when written by a European, usually has a dash across its vertical leg - to distinguish it from the letter '1' that when written without this 'dash', may look similar.

 

Secondly, the '#' symbol is not used by Europeans and definitely was not used by them when this camera was produced.

 

So - whilst the box and the camera are genuine, the written number may not be.

 

Best,

 

Jan

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It's the French who cross their sevens, and have long upward strokes on ones, not all Europeans. The second box number looks, to me, as if it were written by a French person.

 

The hash is definitely an American thing.

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I'm Italian and confirm what Azzo said... I cross my sevens :); anyway, I'd not worry toomuch of the authenticy of the writing... none can make, I think, a definitive expertise on it (or... maybe check ink's age ? ;)). The box in itself is authentic and this matters...

As a side note... the "#" is really uncommon in Europe... but... who knows ? Maybe a Canadian guy sent to Wetzlar for practicing ? Or...a M3 originally sent to USA, and a Leitz N.Y. guy has written himself the s/n ?... Or...

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Guest henjenn

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Well maybe this will help with the mystery. Here is the story from the man I purchased the camera from.

 

 

Dear Mr. Obert: Briefly; I purchased the camera in Willoughby's in New York in 1963. On my way to Athens Georgia there was a wait between trains, so I walked over to the store and bought the camera and f2 lens. A few years back I sent it to E Leitz for cleaning and checkup. It came back with a note that it was all in excellent condition. I know it has worked faultlessly for me alll these years. Our family, wife and eight children, really enjoyed the results from using it and hope it will bring as much pleasure to you.

Sincerely, Richard

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Guest henjenn
Briefly; I purchased the camera in Willoughby's in New York in 1963.

 

So its safe to say that the ink written serial number was put on the box from a Willoughby's employeee.

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Shame, that means it's not genuine Leica ink, applied in Germany.

 

I cross my sevens.

 

Though you might consider that "Wetzlar" is of celtic origin. Even more important, the region where the M3 was produced is called "Kalsmunt", also celtic, meaning "barren hill".

 

So there are strong signs that the writing on the box might show stronger celtic influences than germanic ones.

 

Do the Welsh and Irish cross their sevens?

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Though you might consider that "Wetzlar" is of celtic origin. Even more important, the region where the M3 was produced is called "Kalsmunt", also celtic, meaning "barren hill".

 

So there are strong signs that the writing on the box might show stronger celtic influences than germanic ones.

 

Do the Welsh and Irish cross their sevens?

 

....'>-Wetzlar- Kalsmunt 1 :cool:

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I was born in the USA - New England, when in our Catholic school we still used ink pens, ink wells and we were taught to print in some kind of italic. I cross 7 and upsweep 1, but still use #.

 

Does any Mac user know of a font most similar to those mentioned?

 

TIA

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Guest henjenn

So the gentleman that sold me the camera with box stated "A few years back I sent it to E Leitz for cleaning and checkup"

 

If he sent it to "E Leitz" for CLA then what is this wax seal all about? At certain angles it looks like a Y then at another angle it looks like a complete mess. Any thoughts. Thanks

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