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Early 50mm Elmar lens query


corkscrew

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Hi

 

I was just sorting out a few cameras for an upcoming trip to New York and settled on my trusty Leica II which produces great images. I wasn't 100% sure of it's age and as it's the sort of thing I get asked when it comes out I thought I would check in my book. It is S/No.99583 which dates it to 1932. Now taking a closer look at it there is a serial number on the lens so I thought I would check that to see if it was a matching lens. The number reads 151552 which is somewhat confusing as the numbering is recorded as starting at156000. Does anyone have any idea why mine would have a serial number outside the recorded sequence? For information it is a 50mm 3.5 Elmar.

Any thoughts appreciated.

 

Thank you

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Serial numbers of lenses began indeed much before : I have a Hektor 7,3 129.006 and this lens (and some of the others, too) is sometime found even with "5 digits" s/n (98.xxx, for example. apart the rare "5 digits" lenses matched to non standard Leicas) ; I think there's nothing bad nor strange in your Elmar : anyway, always a pleasure to see someone who regularly makes use of such oldies... :)

 

The well known Puts' list starts indeed at 156.000, but probably for is the first number from which a consistent documentation has been found.

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156000 is not correct. Various experts are quoting different numbers.

I have Elmar SN 73808 (see picture) and another SN123952

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...well, I have as well 3 digits Elmar 5cm and 135mm, but this is a quite different story;) . Some time ago I published this foto on German thread asking for lowest known Elmar, response was not ovewhelming. English thread seem to be more active

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...well, I have as well 3 digits Elmar 5cm and 135mm, but this is a quite different story;) . Some time ago I published this foto on German thread asking for lowest known Elmar, response was not ovewhelming. English thread seem to be more active

 

Keeping in mind the auctions made in your town... ;)... I'm 99% sure not to have seen for sale Elmars < 9x.xxx...

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...well, I have as well 3 digits Elmar 5cm and 135mm, but this is a quite different story;) . Some time ago I published this foto on German thread asking for lowest known Elmar, response was not ovewhelming. English thread seem to be more active

 

Here am I ! and here are the "low numbered lenses" recorded in the Fontenelle collection :

- 93133 . nickel, 11 o'clock Elmar 50 MM

- 93367 : nickel, 11 o'clock Elmar 50 MM

- 93624 : nickel VAROB 5 cm

- 94086 : nickel Hektor f=5 CM 1:2,5

- 96423 : nickel Hektor f=5 CM 1:2,5

- 96833 : black and nickel "fat" Elmar f=9 CM 1:4

- 99886 : nickel, 7 o'clock Elmar f=5 CM 1:3,5

All were scaled in mtr.

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I have some Elmar's without s/n ;)

 

Luigi you have already, time ago, saw a pict of this one with 5 digit 93 198

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I have some Elmar's without s/n ;)

 

Luigi you have already, time ago, saw a pict of this one with 5 digit 93 198

 

I also have records of various "numberless" lenses in the Fontenelle Collection, Jean-Claude.

- six Elmar F=50 MM, all nickel and coupled ("O" engraved), but 4 of them with the early, cylindrical infinity locker, and 2 with the classical "bell" type;

- more interesting, two "fat" 9 cm Elmars, both black and nickel and NOT STANDERDISED (no "O" or arrow), one scaled in mtr, the other in feet;

- one chrome Summar scaled in mtr;

- two Elmar 1:4,5 F=135 MM, both black and nickel and with "European" (large) tripod bush, one coupled, the other not.

My guess, at least for the Elmars 50 MM, is that they all come from upgraded Leica I (A).

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I believe as well that w/o number are from conversions. I have one coated, red scale on upgraded 42xxx. Upgrade with DBP, so early fifties.

It looks like my Elmar 73803 is the lowest number known to the community here, thus most probably worldwide?;)

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yes Luigi, this is knob. Shall be of earlier type. I purchased the lens few years ago from German seller who did not know the history of this lens.Lens did not have flange (with distanace scale) and has focusing depth scale together with "0". It does not have focusing length that is usually stamped on reverse of infinity lock.

So while I do not have any doubts re SN stamped the lens itself must have been "upgraded" in a later time and unfortunately taken off from the camera by an ignorant (lost flange). Shall be visible on the picture, nickel not chrom.

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