Leica R-E Serial Number out of range

[kbleicher]

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Hello, I'm working to purchase a R-E for my collection.  The serial numbers in the photos is 1755363.  According to a number of sites that would place it in 1988 as a R6, though the R-E didn't start listing serial numbers until 1990.  My seller seems to be quite reputable, and I've seen that the factory mixed some serial numbers between models at this time.  Anyone have theories, thoughts, recommendations, advice?   Thank you!

[hepcat]

Conjecture only of course,  it would appear that either the factory found an earlier, R6-series bottom plate in a bin somewhere and used it, or the bottom plate was replaced at some time, either from a donor R6 or a NOS repair part.

[kbleicher]

1 hour ago, hepcat said:

... it would appear that either the factory found an earlier, R6-series bottom plate in a bin somewhere and used it, or the bottom plate was replaced at some time, either from a donor R6 or a NOS repair part.

Yeah, that's what I was thinking too...  Which makes me wonder about camera authenticity / collector value...    Thanks for the conjecture 🙂

[hepcat]

I have a small collection, but I'm not a serious collector and have nothing of high value, so take my opinion with a grain of salt;  but sometimes oddities like that can add to the cachet of a piece.   I doubt that the value of any of the R (except the R6.2) cameras will ever rise to the level of, say, the Leicaflex SL2 in value anyway, and I doubt that an R-E will ever be worth much more than they are today because of the climbing prices of R mount lenses.  If you don't already have an R lens kit, this is a poor (read "expensive")  time to try to acquire one.

[kbleicher]

I'll have all of the 'R's aside from the 6.2 along with 3 'R' lenses once the R-E arrives, so I'm in good shape there.  And I'm not looking to flip the R-E; I'm just trying to understand the discrepancy for my records.  It'll look great in the collection regardless 🙂

[atex]

Hello

Same f with its original box. 

Factory output.

 With its serial numbers

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[dkCambridgeshire]

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And, Leica Pocket Books 7th, 8th & 9th Editions, each state in their R-E descriptions: "Production figures mixed in with those of R5 and R6" 

BW, dunk

[dpitt]

According to the wiki on this forum this is not a R6 serial (just outside the batch for 1988)
R6 info

This is the R-E info
And you are right, 1755363l is a bit lower than the lowest batch for R-E

There are lots of inconsistencies like this over time. I think Leica did not strictly enforce a relation between model and serial batches.