lefse Posted August 25, 2021 Share #1 Posted August 25, 2021 Advertisement (gone after registration) I just scored a near mint M2 (barely used), clearly seen on the attached photo. It has a funny wax seal (apparently not “L”) on the upper bayonet mount screw. Anyone here who knows what it is supposed to be/mean? 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! 3 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/323932-strange-leica-m2-wax-seal/?do=findComment&comment=4263381'>More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted August 25, 2021 Posted August 25, 2021 Hi lefse, Take a look here Strange Leica M2 wax seal. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
frame-it Posted August 25, 2021 Share #2 Posted August 25, 2021 perhaps linked to the 29 in the serial number ? 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! 1 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/323932-strange-leica-m2-wax-seal/?do=findComment&comment=4263400'>More sharing options...
pedaes Posted August 25, 2021 Share #3 Posted August 25, 2021 9 minutes ago, lefse said: funny wax seal Looks like it might have been changed by polishing. My M2 has a stamp that looks like a ' £' that is not in any of the seal identification lists. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pyrogallol Posted August 25, 2021 Share #4 Posted August 25, 2021 See 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lefse Posted August 25, 2021 Author Share #5 Posted August 25, 2021 6 minutes ago, frame-it said: perhaps linked to the 29 in the serial number ? 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! Good eye! Could very well be... funny, if so... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rennrocky Posted August 25, 2021 Share #6 Posted August 25, 2021 vor 27 Minuten schrieb lefse: it has a funny wax seal (apparently not “L”) on the upper bayonet mount screw. Mine (No 1085 9xx) has the same. Four screws and on the top no screw -only black inside 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wizard Posted August 25, 2021 Share #7 Posted August 25, 2021 Advertisement (gone after registration) vor einer Stunde schrieb lefse: I just scored a near mint M2 (barely used), ... Well, that one sure went through a couple of heavy hail storms. Who cares what the wax seal says ... 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomB_tx Posted August 25, 2021 Share #8 Posted August 25, 2021 Different Leica repair shops used to each have a unique stamp to mark their replacement wax seals. I saw a list somewhere, but can't find it now. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lefse Posted August 25, 2021 Author Share #9 Posted August 25, 2021 Found it! 29 means J.L. Nerlien, which was a camera shop in Oslo until 1968. The camera is manufactured in 1961, meaning my minty M2 is recently “CLA’ed”. Page 14, Erwin Puts: https://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-wiki.en/images/3/3e/Leica-puts-pocket-book.pdf 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sabears Posted August 25, 2021 Share #10 Posted August 25, 2021 Sorry, I don't see a "mint M2 (barely used)" camera at all... 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
earleygallery Posted August 25, 2021 Share #11 Posted August 25, 2021 6 minutes ago, sabears said: Sorry, I don't see a "mint M2 (barely used)" camera at all... How do you know, we can't smell it from here! 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
zeitz Posted August 25, 2021 Share #12 Posted August 25, 2021 3 hours ago, lefse said: Page 14, Erwin Puts Thanks for the reference. It is interesting that 92 passed from father (Norm Goldberg, Camcraft) to son (Don Goldberg, DAG Camera Repair). Don rebuilt an M2 Mot for me less than two years ago and it has the 92 seal. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lefse Posted August 25, 2021 Author Share #13 Posted August 25, 2021 25 minutes ago, zeitz said: Thanks for the reference. It is interesting that 92 passed from father (Norm Goldberg, Camcraft) to son (Don Goldberg, DAG Camera Repair). Don rebuilt an M2 Mot for me less than two years ago and it has the 92 seal. Yeah, it’s an interesting topic… apparently there weren’t that many stamps made, as there weren’t that many recognised repair shops to begin with. I guess having an original stamp today gives a repair man a certain flair. Details matter, no? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaques Posted August 26, 2021 Share #14 Posted August 26, 2021 different techs had their own seals my own Leica tech in Australia has his own seal. Apparently leica granted the use of them to some approved techs at some time in the past... 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
M9reno Posted August 31, 2021 Share #15 Posted August 31, 2021 Example of a 92 (no connection to me): https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Leica-Leitz-M2-S-Chrome-35mm-Film-Camera-Body-No-engraving-US-Army-KS15-4-RARE-/154589512779?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&_trksid=p2349624.m46890.l49286&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
willeica Posted August 31, 2021 Share #16 Posted August 31, 2021 A Leica dealer of my acquaintance says that the only thing an original 'L' seal indicates is that no one has put a screwdriver near a camera for perhaps 60 years, which probably means that it may need a CLA now. A different set of letters or numbers may mean that a service person has looked at the camera. The 'near mint' M2 above probably needs more than a CLA, but if a service person has looked at and serviced the shutter, the wind and the rangefinder it might well produce fine pictures. William 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lefse Posted August 31, 2021 Author Share #17 Posted August 31, 2021 (edited) 32 minutes ago, willeica said: A Leica dealer of my acquaintance says that the only thing an original 'L' seal indicates is that no one has put a screwdriver near a camera for perhaps 60 years, which probably means that it may need a CLA now. A different set of letters or numbers may mean that a service person has looked at the camera. The 'near mint' M2 above probably needs more than a CLA, but if a service person has looked at and serviced the shutter, the wind and the rangefinder it might well produce fine pictures. William Oddly, it's super smooth. And the rangefinder is bang on. Maybe someone serviced it sometime during the last two decades, and had access to an old stamp. Looks can be deceiving. Though, of course, this one is as close to mint as possible.. Edited August 31, 2021 by lefse Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lefse Posted August 31, 2021 Author Share #18 Posted August 31, 2021 It also came with a weird loading system. Like a half-assed M4. Kind of neat, but just as cumbersome as the old M3-system. Didn't know this existed until I got it. Good ol' Leitz, always trying to improve incrementally. 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! 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/323932-strange-leica-m2-wax-seal/?do=findComment&comment=4266708'>More sharing options...
Pyrogallol Posted August 31, 2021 Share #19 Posted August 31, 2021 There has been some discussion about this add-on quick load system in another posting. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
willeica Posted August 31, 2021 Share #20 Posted August 31, 2021 5 hours ago, lefse said: Oddly, it's super smooth. And the rangefinder is bang on. Maybe someone serviced it sometime during the last two decades, and had access to an old stamp. Looks can be deceiving. Though, of course, this one is as close to mint as possible.. Never judge a book by its cover. If you look for 'M2 quick loading systems', you might find the one which you have there on this Forum. William 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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