L-marked Alte old Leica 1a Meaning/bedeutung?

[mikedenmark]

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Hello.

I am unsure if this is the right forum, but I have a question regarding an old Leica 1a.

 

On the back, on the edge of the top, in the middle, there is a small screw. Next to the screw has been struck a mark: A small capital L.

What does that mean?

 

Hallo.

Vielleich bin ich hier nicht an die richtige Forum, ich habe aber einer Frage betreffende einem Leica 1a.

Auf die Hinterseite, an die Ecke des obere Abschlussplatte, am Mitte, gibt es einem kleine Schraube. Neben dieser Schraube sind einem kleine L eingeschlagen/eingestempelt.

Was bedeutet einem solches L?

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[sabears]

Hallo, please show an image.

 

cheers.

[mikedenmark]

http://img824.imageshack.us/img824/4837/leica1.jpg

 

I hope this link works. Seems okay.

[SideB]

It's not clear to me that it isn't just a scratch. Is there any sign that it has been filled with Woods Metal like the engravings on the top of the camera.

[Michael Geschlecht]

Hello Mike,

 

Welcome to the Forum.

 

You are in the right place.

 

There is another Historical Section equivalent to this in the German Language Section of this Forum. You might ask there in addition to here.

 

Keeping in mind: You will get plenty of help in this Section.

 

The "L" looks like an "L" to me. It appears there is a piece of something in the angle of the "L". If you want to try to remove it, I would advise that you do so gently.

 

There are many & various kinds of engravings on Leitz/Leica cameras & lenses. I have no idea what this one is. Keep looking. You may well find it.

 

Best Regards,

 

Michael

[mikedenmark]

It is clearly an L. Worn a bit, but definitely an L.

No woods metal present. Nor any sign of any ever having been present.

 

From the edges, I gather it has been embossed, rather than struck.

It may have been engraved.

Point is, little or no metal ridge at the edges of the letter.

 

The camera belongs to a friend and I promised to try and find an explanation. So far, it has been on my desk for a couple of months, with no clue.

[sabears]

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I think that it's nothing related to Leitz or Leica.

[UliWer]

It certainly looks like a sign added by a former owner or a seller.

[mikedenmark]

I can add that the camera was inherited from the dad of the present owner. His dad got it shortly after WWII. That may have been as late as the early fifties, considering people´s ability to remember correctly.

Very likely, it may have been stolen from somewhere at the time, as the serial number has been almost completely erased. To me, that indicate an ownership issue of some kind. So, the serial number is not available. Unless it can be found inside the camera as well. I don´t know where to look.

 

To me, the L looks professionally made. It is not something you just put there. But of course it can be a property mark from a press office or a factory. Only then I think a simple L is somehow not enough. Property marks are usually meant to tell a meaning directly. An L says too little. Unless it may be a leica repair marking or the like.

[M9reno]

Quite puzzling, but it is nonetheless clear that if this is a Leica I A the accessory shoe has been modified from the round to the later square variety.

 

What does the front of the camera look like? If there was a non-Leitz 'upgrade' to an interchangeable but non standardised I C (not sure if this was possible, by the way), the symbol L might serve to indicate this camera's matching lenses.

 

Much less likely, perhaps L (=50 in Latin) was a personal reminder to the owner of the focal length of the attached Elmar... Or the initial or number of a military unit, or simply a personally significant or favourite number or letter!