I'm looking for my Birthday Leica

[Gadgetdave]

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Hi I hope someone could help. I'm finally able to fulfil an dream I've had for a while I'd love to own a Leica made on or as close to the same day I was born. 
I'm prepared for a long search as I realise this is a big ask. The target date is March 2nd 1965.

All I have to go on is the serial number lists that are available but it looks like numbers are batched for example "1900 bodies on 17/03/1965" (UK date).
I'm pretty sure they didn't make nearly 2000 bodies on the 17th. So what does the date refer to?   
Is this the date when the batch was assigned before manufacture or the date the bodies were sent to shipping or some other time? 

Would someone know how to estimate to within say a hundred serial numbers.  

I know I might be more than a little too literal but unfortunately its the way my mind works. 2 months out just wouldn't feel right.  
Thanks in advance.

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[andybarton]

My first Leica was (is) an M2 made 9 months before I was born (think about it...), according to the serial number. This was complete happenstance, as I didn't find this out until after I had bought it.

I would think that the serial numbers are assigned BEFORE manufacture, otherwise Leica wouldn't know what numbers to engrave on the top plates.

If you want to be reasonably accurate (probably impossible) you would need to know how long it took to make a batch of 1900 before the next batch of numbers is released. The numbers don't follow a rational pattern sometimes and it doesn't necessarily mean that SN 0003 was made after SN 0002 and before SN 0004 - I expect the top plates just came out of the box in random order.

You could drop an email to Customer Services at Leica and ask them if they have any accurate records of what was made on 2/3/65 - they might have a dusty ledger somewhere and they are usually very helpful with this kind of thing.

[105012]

Leica production records may have the best data, so drop them a line and see if they will help you. I believe my late M3 was produced within one month of my birth date, which is a happy co-incidence.

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[Gadgetdave]

Hi guys thank you for replying. I think your both right I should contact Leica and see if they an help. 

I think if I can get a range of serial numbers within a month of the start of March its as much as I can hope for. But I've got say 9 months from a birth date is another level of accuracy I hadn't expected. 🙂 

[Danner]

Good luck in your search.  There is something very satisfying about owning a Leica rangefinder that is older than the owner.  In my case, I have a pristine IIIf (RD) and 50mm Summitar to satisfy that desire.  Having one from your actual date of birth would be even better 🙂

Edited June 28, 2022 by Danner

[madNbad]

It would be fairly easy for me, I showed up as the same time as the M3.

[smoothlander1]

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I'm 64 years old.....I can only wish my birthday was on the date that my MP .72 was manufactured!

[a.noctilux]

9 hours ago, smoothlander1 said:

I'm 64 years old.....I can only wish my birthday was on the date that my MP .72 was manufactured!

MP 2

or MP1

would do if you look hard enough 😝

[Matlock]

24 minutes ago, a.noctilux said:

MP 2

or MP1

would do if you look hard enough 😝

And take out a mortgage 😆 

[Gadgetdave]

On 6/28/2022 at 5:23 PM, Al Brown said:

It would be very hard to get the MANUFACTURE date this accurate, but Leica is pretty amazing with DELIVERY dates, i.e. when a camera was sold. All the data is there, in their books. Probably the best guy at Leica for your query is Mr. Brieger peter.brieger@leica-camera.com, drop him a line.

An even bigger treasure trove is Mr. Lars Netopil lars-netopil@lars-netopil.com, who has an office in Wetzlar. He knows stuff even Leica forgot. If he will not be able to help you nobody will.

Hi Al thank you for this. I’m sure they can steer me in the right direction. Again so helpful thank you.

[Gadgetdave]

A big thank you for your help and advice. In my quest.

I emailed Herr Brieger he very kindly replied almost by return. Unfortunately they do not have the ability to narrow down my search through the available records not without examining historical paperwork which would be a huge task. 
so my quest continues.

 

David

[MarkP]

Although I have an M7 and CL, I have long wanted a Leica film M the same age as me. Despite my OCD 😁, I was quite content to have one made the same year I was born, and not narrow it down any further.

I have now have a 1962 SS chrome M3 (never wanted black paint), 50 Summicron, 90 Elmarit.  Fabulous camera, I now understand why.

I’ve been after a 5.6/28 but finding one in good enough optical condition is too risky.  Almost all have haze in the optical cell and I have been advised it cannot always be removed. I now have a similar vintage 28 OVF and bought a TTArtisan chrome 28 till I make a final decision.  
 

Good luck with your birthday camera 🙂.

 

 

[Gadgetdave]

Thank you. Good luck with your search for the 28mm. 

[Gadgetdave]

Update. 
I found it! My Birthday M2.
Well as close as I could ever estimate. 

I'm an overthinker and had my mind set on being able to find a camera built on exactly my birthday. Trying to find this exact camera drove me quite potty.
The one obvious point I hadn't considered was would one of only a few dozen cameras ever come up for sale? But then if it did would I see the advert. would it be sold in a small town camera shop on the other side of the world? Would it be in a reasonable condition functional? Finally would it be affordable and not a mint never opened model way out of my budget? 

A fantastic idea is a wonderful thing but there has to be some practicality. 

So of the 30175 Cameras Leitz made in 1965 only 8000 were M2's made in Germany with some help from excel an spreadsheet and a few best guesses I narrowed my search to a range of cameras which could have been produced "near" to my birthday.

After what was an obsessive online search over a couple of months I already had three candidates.
One in Nuremburg needing lots of repair work. But after I calculated the import duty and taxes (Thank you Brexit!) it would have cost more than buying an excellent condition in the UK. 
One in Japan but again taxes and costs made it a very expensive option.
And then there was Red dot Cameras in London. They had 7 M2 models. One caught my eye it was from the Jan 26th 1965 batch That I had been interested in.
It was in great condition and affordable!

Eureka!   

But I still overthought it for a week before pulling the trigger. I've just received my first film back and the results are fabulous the camera is working perfectly although I am going to have to relearn handheld metering! 
It may not be made on the same day as me but it is just a few days older and that is close enough.

I want to thank everyone here who gave me suggestions and shared thoughts. I also want to thank Herr Brieger at Leica who had to tell me twice (yes i mistakenly wrote to him twice by accident) that they were unable to research within old paper archives. 

After all this it would be rude not to introduce you..  

Thank you

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[Guest]

@Gadgetdave enjoy the new purchase. 

[Erato]

7 minutes ago, Gadgetdave said:

Update. 
I found it! My Birthday M2.
Well as close as I could ever estimate. 

I'm an overthinker and had my mind set on being able to find a camera built on exactly my birthday. Trying to find this exact camera drove me quite potty.
The one obvious point I hadn't considered was would one of only a few dozen cameras ever come up for sale? But then if it did would I see the advert. would it be sold in a small town camera shop on the other side of the world? Would it be in a reasonable condition functional? Finally would it be affordable and not a mint never opened model way out of my budget? 

A fantastic idea is a wonderful thing but there has to be some practicality. 

So of the 30175 Cameras Leitz made in 1965 only 8000 were M2's made in Germany with some help from excel an spreadsheet and a few best guesses I narrowed my search to a range of cameras which could have been produced "near" to my birthday.

After what was an obsessive online search over a couple of months I already had three candidates.
One in Nuremburg needing lots of repair work. But after I calculated the import duty and taxes (Thank you Brexit!) it would have cost more than buying an excellent condition in the UK. 
One in Japan but again taxes and costs made it a very expensive option.
And then there was Red dot Cameras in London. They had 7 M2 models. One caught my eye it was from the Jan 26th 1965 batch That I had been interested in.
It was in great condition and affordable!

Eureka!   

But I still overthought it for a week before pulling the trigger. I've just received my first film back and the results are fabulous the camera is working perfectly although I am going to have to relearn handheld metering! 
It may not be made on the same day as me but it is just a few days older and that is close enough.

I want to thank everyone here who gave me suggestions and shared thoughts. I also want to thank Herr Brieger at Leica who had to tell me twice (yes i mistakenly wrote to him twice by accident) that they were unable to research within old paper archives. 

After all this it would be rude not to introduce you..  

Thank you

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!

Congrats on your birthday Leica M2...^^b

[Topsy]

5 hours ago, Gadgetdave said:

Update. 
I found it! My Birthday M2.
Well as close as I could ever estimate. 

I'm an overthinker and had my mind set on being able to find a camera built on exactly my birthday. Trying to find this exact camera drove me quite potty.
The one obvious point I hadn't considered was would one of only a few dozen cameras ever come up for sale? But then if it did would I see the advert. would it be sold in a small town camera shop on the other side of the world? Would it be in a reasonable condition functional? Finally would it be affordable and not a mint never opened model way out of my budget? 

A fantastic idea is a wonderful thing but there has to be some practicality. 

So of the 30175 Cameras Leitz made in 1965 only 8000 were M2's made in Germany with some help from excel an spreadsheet and a few best guesses I narrowed my search to a range of cameras which could have been produced "near" to my birthday.

After what was an obsessive online search over a couple of months I already had three candidates.
One in Nuremburg needing lots of repair work. But after I calculated the import duty and taxes (Thank you Brexit!) it would have cost more than buying an excellent condition in the UK. 
One in Japan but again taxes and costs made it a very expensive option.
And then there was Red dot Cameras in London. They had 7 M2 models. One caught my eye it was from the Jan 26th 1965 batch That I had been interested in.
It was in great condition and affordable!

Eureka!   

But I still overthought it for a week before pulling the trigger. I've just received my first film back and the results are fabulous the camera is working perfectly although I am going to have to relearn handheld metering! 
It may not be made on the same day as me but it is just a few days older and that is close enough.

I want to thank everyone here who gave me suggestions and shared thoughts. I also want to thank Herr Brieger at Leica who had to tell me twice (yes i mistakenly wrote to him twice by accident) that they were unable to research within old paper archives. 

After all this it would be rude not to introduce you..  

Thank you

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!

Well done. 👍

[Lux50]

Nice to hear your project was successful and you are a happy man.👍 Enjoy your M2!

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Hallo,

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[CPA]

This is great. Enjoy your M2, it looks amazing. 

[Gadgetdave]

Just now, CPA said:

This is great. Enjoy your M2, it looks amazing. Thank you 🙏