Leica IIIc inscription / engraving

[grumpygit]

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Hi, I've recently come into the possession of some of my Fathers camera collection and amongst the Leica's is a IIIc. I know about the red shutter blinds, but there is an additional engraving on the top plate that reads P5063. Does anyone on the forum know where this may have come from?

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[Anbaric]

It may be impossible to say at this point, unless someone has come across a documented camera that is similarly marked. Wartime Leicas like this were of course engraved for official purposes, both in Germany and by the Allies when they managed to get hold of them by various routes (e.g. the PATT 8665 engraving used by the Royal Navy), but this was generally done neatly and professionally. This looks like a rough hand engraving, which could conceivably have been done 'in the field' during the war, or at any later time for whatever purpose.

[grumpygit]

17 hours ago, Anbaric said:

It may be impossible to say at this point, unless someone has come across a documented camera that is similarly marked. Wartime Leicas like this were of course engraved for official purposes, both in Germany and by the Allies when they managed to get hold of them by various routes (e.g. the PATT 8665 engraving used by the Royal Navy), but this was generally done neatly and professionally. This looks like a rough hand engraving, which could conceivably have been done 'in the field' during the war, or at any later time for whatever purpose.

Many thanks I just wondered if anyone knew of any others like it or which organisation may have engraved it.

[jaapv]

I suspect it is just an inventory number.

[jankap]

20 hours ago, grumpygit said:

Many thanks I just wondered if anyone knew of any others like it or which organisation may have engraved it.

Engraved??

[willeica]

On 4/21/2023 at 7:00 PM, Anbaric said:

It may be impossible to say at this point, unless someone has come across a documented camera that is similarly marked. Wartime Leicas like this were of course engraved for official purposes, both in Germany and by the Allies when they managed to get hold of them by various routes (e.g. the PATT 8665 engraving used by the Royal Navy), but this was generally done neatly and professionally. This looks like a rough hand engraving, which could conceivably have been done 'in the field' during the war, or at any later time for whatever purpose.

Reid cameras had 4 digit serial numbers preceded by a P.  Tim Goldsmith who advises Chiswick Auctions has had access to the Reid Archives. The famous British Intelligence visit to Wetzlar after WWII actually consisted of Reid and Sigrist staff in counterfeit British uniforms. Could this one be a 'sample' which was brought back by the Reid team? The Reid camera was based on the IIIa, however, rather than the IIIc.

William 

[luigi bertolotti]

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Wartime item... came someway in possession of P(rivate) mat. 5063 of US Army ? 🙄  (dunno if such a number has sense within armed forces of that time)

 

[250swb]

6 hours ago, luigi bertolotti said:

Wartime item... came someway in possession of P(rivate) mat. 5063 of US Army ? 🙄  (dunno if such a number has sense within armed forces of that time)

 

Nikon started engraving 'EP' on their cameras and lenses for a long time after the end of the war to denote they were for 'export tax exempt' for Allied armed forces in occupation. I suppose this could be a less official unit by unit response to taking goods home directly after the armistice?