Determine manufacturing date Leica S body

[jip]

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Anyone know how to determine manufacturing date/age of Leica S bodies?

I have:
S-E (Typ 006) 48103XX
S (Typ 007) 49524XX

Thanks!

[Jeff S]

Not sure on the S, but other Leica products delivered with an outer plain box often have a sticker applied showing date of manufacture.

Jeff

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[davidmknoble]

My understanding on serial numbers is that a batch is allocated, but the use of the serial numbers does not indicate any date of manufacture, although in older equipment it has been tracked and released.  I’ll look on the box as @Jeff Ssuggests and see what I can find!

[Jeff S]

1 hour ago, davidmknoble said:

 I’ll look on the box as @Jeff Ssuggests and see what I can find!

But anything you find is specific to your sample, not the OP’s.  My most recent item, an M10-R BP, has the manufacture date in small print on the white sticker affixed to the outer plain grey box.  

Otherwise, one can contact Leica for possible answer.

Jeff

[jip]

I don't have the outer grey box for my 007 anymore, I do for the 006. 

It was more something I'd like to know, and of course don't need to know. 🤣

[Pieter12]

Have you tried contacting Leica Service with the S/N? They have been most helpful for me, informing me of any repairs or upgrades that may have been made to second-hand equipment I was considering.

[Sarnian]

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From sending numerous sensor-check e-mails to Leica Customer Services over the years I've been told (on occasion) when various S bodies were manufactured. As an example, I was told that the 006 with Serial Number 4687210 was made in 2013. There doesn't appear to be any 2 digits, say, that represent 2013. I'll see if I can find more examples but it looks pretty random (to Jo Public, at least). 

[Jeff S]

On 9/2/2022 at 4:24 PM, jip said:

I don't have the outer grey box for my 007 anymore, I do for the 006. 

It was more something I'd like to know, and of course don't need to know. 🤣

As I noted, contact Leica if you’re curious enough; they’ll know.

Jefg

[Pieter12]

1 hour ago, Sarnian said:

From sending numerous sensor-check e-mails to Leica Customer Services over the years I've been told (on occasion) when various S bodies were manufactured. As an example, I was told that the 006 with Serial Number 4687210 was made in 2013. There doesn't appear to be any 2 digits, say, that represent 2013. I'll see if I can find more examples but it looks pretty random (to Jo Public, at least). 

Try decoding Hasselblad serial numbers. The seem to have been devised by Alan Turing. http://www.hasselbladhistorical.eu/HT/HTDating.aspx

[BernardC]

14 hours ago, Pieter12 said:

Try decoding Hasselblad serial numbers. The seem to have been devised by Alan Turing. http://www.hasselbladhistorical.eu/HT/HTDating.aspx

Kodak used a similar code, based on the word CAMEROSITY (C=1). They also used a 13 month calendar.

This type of code must have been common in most of the XXth century. There are many reasons why you would want to include the production date in a serial number, but not make it obvious to customers. That's especially true with anything photographic that isn't film or chemistry. Some low-turnover items could be in warehouses for years before they find a customer.