romualdo Posted April 23, 2021 Share #1 Posted April 23, 2021 (edited) Advertisement (gone after registration) I have a friend who owns this lovely Nickel Elmar from the very early 30s I suspect, maybe 1932 Unfortunately my lens production table in Laney (p 600, 2nd edn) only commences at 1933 (serial #156001 & onwards) The serial # on this lens is 134079 (visible on third pic) Based on the descriptions in Laney (p225) this would appear to be a 1932 model. The infinity catch is the "flat top" type & I'm not sure if there is an "O" engraving under the flange ring (no pics of this available) Are there lists/tables covering the earlier serial numbers? Am I correct in assuming that this was most likely assembled in 1932. Also, can you tell if it's been subsequently coated from the pics? Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Edited April 23, 2021 by romualdo Quote Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/320218-nickel-elmar-50-year-of-production/?do=findComment&comment=4186948'>More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted April 23, 2021 Posted April 23, 2021 Hi romualdo, Take a look here Nickel Elmar 50 - year of production?. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
jankap Posted April 23, 2021 Share #2 Posted April 23, 2021 Did you look in Leica Wiki (eng)? At the top of this window between "Members" and "Activity". 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
romualdo Posted April 23, 2021 Author Share #3 Posted April 23, 2021 41 minutes ago, jankap said: Did you look in Leica Wiki (eng)? At the top of this window between "Members" and "Activity". Wow!! thanks Jankap - didn't realise there was a lens serial # list in the Leica Wiki So it appears that the lens is a 1931 model (#134079) Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Quote Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/320218-nickel-elmar-50-year-of-production/?do=findComment&comment=4186985'>More sharing options...
tranquilo67 Posted April 23, 2021 Share #4 Posted April 23, 2021 Hi, Is it rangefinder coupled? To me there are a couple of strange things on that. The serial number points towards 1931 but being a 7 o'clock sample and that type of infinity lock points to a 1933+ sample. In 1931 it should be 11 o'clock (there was no reason to move the infinity lock down till the Leica III model F). Also the earliest samples that I've seen of coupled 50mm 3.5 are not only 11 o'clock but all bell push type (and interesting enough, most of them without serial). My April 1932 sample no serial number (much probably the 8th rangefinder coupled lens ever): Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! And here my May 1933 sample with serial 156508 (the 8th lens of the first documented batch): So my guess would be an earlier optical block but re-worked to be rangefinder coupled after 1933, but there're true Elmar 50 specialists here. Best wishes, Augusto 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! And here my May 1933 sample with serial 156508 (the 8th lens of the first documented batch): So my guess would be an earlier optical block but re-worked to be rangefinder coupled after 1933, but there're true Elmar 50 specialists here. Best wishes, Augusto ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/320218-nickel-elmar-50-year-of-production/?do=findComment&comment=4187014'>More sharing options...
romualdo Posted April 23, 2021 Author Share #5 Posted April 23, 2021 45 minutes ago, tranquilo67 said: Is it rangefinder coupled? To me there are a couple of strange things on that. The serial number points towards 1931 but being a 7 o'clock sample and that type of infinity lock points to a 1933+ sample. Augusto, not sure if it's rangefinder coupled (I think that it is but I'll ask the owner) I don't have the lens in my possession at present Yes, that was confusing to me ie the infinity lock reflects a younger lens, not one made in 1931 while the serial number is suggestive of 1931 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
romualdo Posted April 23, 2021 Author Share #6 Posted April 23, 2021 update/correction from my previous post - the lens is definitely rangefinder coupled (been communicating with the owner) Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jerzy Posted April 25, 2021 Share #7 Posted April 25, 2021 Advertisement (gone after registration) Thiele is listing batch 132001-135000 as being from 1932, but it is not so relecvant. As I found within this batch majority of the lenses were 7 oclock, 11 oclock (with infinity lock were less than 25% of population. Many lenses were converted at this time (adding rangefinder coupling, changing mount to 7 oclock) so it is possible that some of 7 oclock that I found were converted. But I believe that this was again transitional period and both mounts weree produced simultanously until "old stock" of 11 oclock were used. All 7 oclock are per deffinition rangefinder coupled and I would assume that those in 11 oclock mount from this batch were coupled as well. At least most of them. It is common believe (Band I, Hahne list) that model II was introduced in February 1932 however notes from assembly dept have the date of August1931 as production start of "camera with rangefinder automatically coupled with the lens, Model II", serial 71200 1 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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