Leica 1a - 4 digits number 100% original ?

[PG Black nickel]

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Hello everyone,
This Leica 1 a # 5575 outfit has just arrived, it was in fairly average condition the vulcanite was brown, mouldy in places (photo 6). Cleaned with glycerine soap and treated with ox foot oil...very good result.
I wonder whether this set is really 100% original...with all matching early parts like the low-profile knobs, mushroom-type release knob, the early type of vulcanite,early base plate....
It arrived in an old Leitz etrin, with very rare and early front lens cap aluminium (with dark red velvet inside) which was to equip the Leica anastigmat or elmax, red double film box...and early fodis.
Everything seems to indicate that it is original, the information from Leitz tells me that it left for Paris on 1 January 1928 and that it never returned to Leitz...I don't have the booklet by von Einem (Die 10 Varianten der klassischen Leica I A mit Elmar 1:3.5 F=50mm).
One thing surprises me: the dome under the gear knob has been turned 90° from its original position...has it been dismantled and repositioned incorrectly? I've seen a few like that, so it can't be a factory error?
What do you think?

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[jerzy]

according to v.Einem your camera ist variant 3 and as far I can the photos all features/details are conform, i.e. camera seem to be in 100% original condition. If you post a photo of bottomo of the camnera with bottom cover off than we can see if shutter has been reworked. Checking other details require oipening the camera.

And yes, dome is off by 90 degree, Are the speeds indicated correctly? 

 

[PG Black nickel]

 

Thanks Jerry for your reply,

verything works very well, but the chosen speed engages next to the telemeter support and not on the usual mark.

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[nitroplait]

22 hours ago, PG Black nickel said:

information from Leitz tells me that it left for Paris on 1 January 1928 and that it never returned to Leitz

Great find!

Just a minor point.

Leica does normally not say that a camera "never returned". They ususally say "no entry in the old maintenance/repairbooks for this serial" or something similar.

That does not mean they camera has not been back. It just mean that the person you communicated with couldn't find any information that it had been back in whatever system he/she is referencing.

I somehow doubt the Leica service departement put a lot of effort into go through hardly legible handwritten repair entries every time they get a request from people buying Barnack Leicas. That could be a lot of work when they don't have any idea of when a camera could possibly have been returned for service.

 

[PG Black nickel]

You're right, I think the answer is very succinct...and that they don't do a thorough search every time they receive a request (unless it was luxus, of course).
Here's the text I received:
# 5575 was shipped to Paris on January 1, 1928 (no service record)