1931 Chrome Elmar

[ELW]

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Hello!

I'm trying to find a bit more information about a lens I have here which appears to be a 1931 Chrome Elmar marked 50mm with:

• scale in meters,
• 3.5-4.5-6.3-9-12.5-18 aperture markings (on front and hyperfocal markers),
• 7 o'clock lock with a domed concentric button,
• 'o' mark next to focusing tab,
• '6' under focusing tab,
• and a serial number of '122531'.

Having read a couple of lists of serial numbers this seems to make it a 1931 model which is fair enough, but I was under the understanding these lenses were meant to be Nickel plated? This looks like a normal silver coloured plating with a light 'brushed' effect. 

My question is; were chrome lenses made at the same time as the nickel through the 1931 year or is it possibly a mish-mash of parts sort of thing where maybe this lens has been repaired with parts from an older lens and they've used that ring, or a nickel lens has been re-barrelled in this chrome body with the original serial number? 

-OR-

Am I reading the serial number wrong and it's actually '422531' or something? Attached a few pics for reference.

The lens isn't mine, I'm selling it on the behalf of someone, and would like to get them a fair price if it is anything of interest. I suppose the early-ness of it is pretty cool! Otherwise it's a very normal example with stiff focusing and aperture control, hazy glass, scratched front, etc... but cosmetically okay.

TIA!

 

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[alan mcfall]

The serial 122531 is correct for a 50 Elmar, (lot 122247-122868), 422531 would be for a Summar. So it is an early lens from 1932. Most likely, if some parts are chrome plated, it was done after initial production in all nickel.

[ELW]

Thank you for confirming! 

On 8/1/2022 at 5:37 PM, alan mcfall said:

Most likely, if some parts are chrome plated, it was done after initial production in all nickel.

Just to clarify you mean it was made as a chrome lens or it was modified after the fact? There doesn't look to be an ounce of nickel on it.