90MM Summicron (version II) without serial number

[drew.saunders]

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Collectors and Historical specialists,

I started a thread in the Leica M Lenses forum:

 

Where I wondered if anyone could help me figure out why my c. 1966 90mm Summicron has no serial number on the face where it should be.

My newly updated avatar is from a photo I just took of it today, trying to get a more "artistic" view of the front (see below). 

Thanks to the great detective work of Michael Geschlecht, we determined it was likely a 1966 lens, and that the serial number really should be in that conspicuous gap between "CANADA" and "SUMMICRON."

At this point, our best guess is that a non-Leica service center repaired the lens and didn't have the ability to engrave the serial number on the replaced face. The lettering on the face is much less faded than the f-stop and distance scales, so it fits that that lettering is newer.

Does anyone here have a better answer to the missing serial number? (It's not inside the optical group or focusing barrel, or on the rear, I've checked all of those).

Do I have a super rare prototype that I can send to the next Leitz Photographica Auction and retire on the proceeds? 

Thanks,

Drew

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[luigi bertolotti]

9 hours ago, drew.saunders said:

C

 

Does anyone here have a better answer to the missing serial number? (It's not inside the optical group or focusing barrel, or on the rear, I've checked all of those).

Do I have a super rare prototype that I can send to the next Leitz Photographica Auction and retire on the proceeds? 

Thanks,

Drew

 

Not necessarly a better one, but simply an alternative : factory error - machining cycle "jumped"... there are other examples (missing characters - missing numbers... searching with patience, you can find examples in the forum, also James Lager displays some in his books.. happened both in Germany and in Canada) ; I don't remember, though, to have seen an error of this kind... a COMPLETELY missing writing...

It is surely  a rarity  (but not a prototype, I'd say) ; what this means on evaluation at an auction... who knows ?

 

Edited June 21, 2021 by luigi bertolotti

[jerzy]

I had once unnumbered Hektor 135mm f4,5 from late 50-ties, I assume. Gave it to Westlicht, auction 33 lot 92. Went for a small fortune🙂