Leica M3 variations - 1

[chris_livsey]

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I wonder if the 4 screws disappeared when the added the top screw to the bayonet flange?

 

709420 has the top screw and the 4 screws:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mint-Leica-M3-Double-Stroke-35mm-Rangefinder-Film-Camera-first-year-1954-Rare-/162258614014?hash=item25c75df6fe:g:91cAAOxy9eVRPuab

 

As does 704006 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1954-Leica-M3-Double-Stroke-w-summicron-50mm-f-2-First-year-704006-x00485-/172389813812?hash=item28233bce34:m:mdYqyvyCcb5i3SRYDnMRcEA

 

757709 has 4 screws and frame preview.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Leica-M3-Rangefinder-Film-Camera-double-stroke-chrome-/292033603291?hash=item43fe8f26db:g:IyoAAOSwx6pYqsn5

 

But has this been added later? I thought from 785801 but if it was it shows it could be added with the screws in place.

 

703157 is the same, preview with screws too early a number.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Leica-M3-Gehause-Body-/161972239640?hash=item25b64c3d18:g:EyoAAOSwezVWuIvG

 

Was each camera actually unique? 

Edited February 26, 2017 by chris_livsey

[Leicaiste]

 

I wonder if the 4 screws disappeared when they added the top screw to the bayonet flange?

 

 

That is also maybe the reason for the larger spacer ring bellow the advance lever : to help secure the top plate without the four screws.

 

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Edited February 26, 2017 by Leicaiste

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[Leicaiste]

One can also see on the picture just above that the older shutter speed dial was a bit taller (with 1/2/5/25/50/100/250 etc) than the later version (1/2/4/8/15/30/60/125/250 etc).

Edited February 26, 2017 by Leicaiste

[jerzy]

on top of chganges and modification which are visible like all mentioned above there were as well other modifications to the meachanism, but as well to the functionality of the camera. And some of them were being kept secrect, Leica did not made a lot of noise when introducing it. Such example is releasing the wind mechanism after the shutter was cocked. M3 has a blockade against  film wind when the shutter is running. With early models the wind mechanism was released when the first curtain finished it's travel. This means that with long speeds (like 1 sec) you could wind the film when the second curtain was not fully closed, thus ruin the picture. Later, it has been changed to the second curtain releasing the wind mechanism after it finished the travel. When exactely this modification has been introduced I was not able to find out, anyhow my 7008xx and 702xxx do not have this modification and 707xxx has it already. Very often however early M3 received this modification automaticaly (even without informing the user) when they were in service.

[Leicaiste]

 

I wonder if the 4 screws disappeared when the added the top screw to the bayonet flange?

 

 

 

Looking at this replacement M3 black paint top plate, it seems that you are right.

 

http://www.leicashop.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/2/5/25181_31.jpg

Edited February 26, 2017 by Leicaiste

[willeica]

My M3 DS from 1955 has the top screw on the lens mount and the four screws on the top plate (front and back).  It does not have a frame lever, however. I wonder was it necessary to remove the screw on the top plate front ( right side looking towards it) to allow for a small link of some kind between the lever and the actual frames. As they were removing one screw, Leica may have decided to go all of the way. My 1955 M3 DS also has a smaller ring under the shutter button than a later M3 SS which I have in my collection. 

 

Just a few more pieces of evidence to add to the mix.

 

William