ejg1890 Posted July 3 Share #1 Posted July 3 Advertisement (gone after registration) I recently came across a Leica II D in black paint. I have traced the serial number back to an early production. The strange thing with the camera is it does have strap lugs on either side of the camera. I know the Leica II did not come with lugs, at least the early versions. The camera does not appear to be a fake not is it a Leica III as there is no slow shutter speed dial. Did Leica offer lugs as a customization to cameras? They appear to be well mounted or what I mean is a cheap addition. Thanks. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted July 3 Posted July 3 Hi ejg1890, Take a look here Leica II with Strap Lugs - customization?. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
jerzy Posted July 3 Share #2 Posted July 3 yes, in the past Leica was adding strap lugs upon request. But lugs were available as well as spare parts so they could have been added as well by third party. If you will have a chance post the photo of your camera, maybe there are mnore modifications done. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ejg1890 Posted July 3 Author Share #3 Posted July 3 19 minutes ago, jerzy said: yes, in the past Leica was adding strap lugs upon request. But lugs were available as well as spare parts so they could have been added as well by third party. If you will have a chance post the photo of your camera, maybe there are mnore modifications done. Attached is a photo. The lugs appear to be brass and I don’t see any other modifications. Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! 1 Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/422760-leica-ii-with-strap-lugs-customization/?do=findComment&comment=5827925'>More sharing options...
jerzy Posted July 3 Share #4 Posted July 3 thx for showing, this is very early II, did Leica sent you delivery date? If yes, pls share with me/us. This could be February 1932, so very early, could have been one of first II sent to USA. Lugs seem to be placed a bit higher than of later III, they are brass, should have been nickel plated. Shape is identical to lugs Leica used, so I believe they are genuine. There is one modification more - eyesight correction lever, it came in III only, so one year later. Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! One question more - is there a blind screw at the backsid, in the middle?, like this Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! One question more - is there a blind screw at the backsid, in the middle?, like this ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/422760-leica-ii-with-strap-lugs-customization/?do=findComment&comment=5827945'>More sharing options...
ejg1890 Posted July 3 Author Share #5 Posted July 3 1 hour ago, jerzy said: thx for showing, this is very early II, did Leica sent you delivery date? If yes, pls share with me/us. This could be February 1932, so very early, could have been one of first II sent to USA. Lugs seem to be placed a bit higher than of later III, they are brass, should have been nickel plated. Shape is identical to lugs Leica used, so I believe they are genuine. There is one modification more - eyesight correction lever, it came in III only, so one year later. Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! One question more - is there a blind screw at the backsid, in the middle?, like this I had just place the order earlier and don’t have the delivery date. There is a lever on the eye piece. Curious what that’s for? The back photo is at the top half and not the bottom on the back so I do t see the blind screw. And yes I had trace the SN back to a very early batch. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jerzy Posted July 3 Share #6 Posted July 3 (edited) vor einer Stunde schrieb ejg1890: Curious what that’s for this is rangefinder window, lever is for correcting eyesight, +- 2 dioptries? Edited July 3 by jerzy Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ejg1890 Posted July 3 Author Share #7 Posted July 3 Advertisement (gone after registration) 4 minutes ago, jerzy said: this is rangefinder window, lever is for correcting eyesight, +- 2 dioptries? Thanks. Thats the only thing I could think of. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ejg1890 Posted July 3 Author Share #8 Posted July 3 2 hours ago, jerzy said: One question more - is there a blind screw at the backsid, in the middle?, like this Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Also wanted to ask about this screw. While I don’t see on the one pictured I also don’t see it on other Leica II bodies I see on the internet. What is its purpose? Thanks. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
willeica Posted July 4 Share #9 Posted July 4 14 hours ago, ejg1890 said: Also wanted to ask about this screw. While I don’t see on the one pictured I also don’t see it on other Leica II bodies I see on the internet. What is its purpose? Thanks. That feature was on pre-rangefinder Leicas. The little plug could be removed and a technician could make adjustments with a ground glass screen to match the lens with the camera usually using thin metal rings called 'shims' behind the mount on the camera. This feature was no longer necessary with a built in rangefinder and, indeed, with a standardised mount, but early IIs still had them, presumably because they were using up stocks of camera bodies. Hope this makes sense. Jerzy may have better technical terms to describe this. William Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ejg1890 Posted July 4 Author Share #10 Posted July 4 21 hours ago, jerzy said: thx for showing, this is very early II, did Leica sent you delivery date? If yes, pls share with me/us. This could be February 1932, so very early, could have been one of first II sent to USA. Lugs seem to be placed a bit higher than of later III, they are brass, should have been nickel plated. Shape is identical to lugs Leica used, so I believe they are genuine. There is one modification more - eyesight correction lever, it came in III only, so one year later. Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! One question more - is there a blind screw at the backsid, in the middle?, like this I contacted Leica yesterday on more information regarding the camera and the replied much quicker than I expected. The camera was the first batch sent to a dealer/distributor Prost on February 3, 1932. It had been back to the factory for modifications and work in January 1933, May 1935 and June 1935. They were not able to provide me with the work completed during those times. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jerzy Posted July 4 Share #11 Posted July 4 (edited) this is indeed one of the very first II that left the factory, cameras with serial 712xxx were delivered in April 1932. Interesting on the these early IIs is that major parts were produced as parts for IC and were modified still in the factory to accomodate rangefinder of model II. I wrote an article for Vidom about early IIs, but it is in German language. Edited July 4 by jerzy Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jerzy Posted July 4 Share #12 Posted July 4 vor einer Stunde schrieb ejg1890: They were not able to provide me with the work completed during those times. activities are coded with 2 digit numbers in most cases, noone knows now what they mean Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ejg1890 Posted July 14 Author Share #13 Posted July 14 Not sure you all will read this but received my Leica II today. In good condition better than I thought actually. That’s for both the camera and lens. Mention the camera previously, the lens doesn’t have or can’t find a serial number but based on the aperture markings appears to be from the 1930’s to early 40’s. I’m not sure when Leica stopped manufacturing camera/lenses around that 1940’s period. The aperture tab, pull out/push in and focus are all smooth. Both shutter curtains looks good, as well as the shutter sound. Now I’ll need to run a roll of film through over the next several days for the real test. Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! 2 Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/422760-leica-ii-with-strap-lugs-customization/?do=findComment&comment=5833725'>More sharing options...
Pyrogallol Posted July 15 Share #14 Posted July 15 I see that the camera has the adjustable eye piece added as well as the strap lugs. The lens appears to have the narrow flange so probably came off an earlier fixed lens body with no serial number marked externally. There are other threads with better explanations of these early upgrades. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ejg1890 Posted July 15 Author Share #15 Posted July 15 8 hours ago, Pyrogallol said: I see that the camera has the adjustable eye piece added as well as the strap lugs. The lens appears to have the narrow flange so probably came off an earlier fixed lens body with no serial number marked externally. There are other threads with better explanations of these early upgrades. Thanks for the information on the lens. I’ll investigate further. I was in contact with Leica regarding the camera. The unit shipped out on February 3, 1932 as part of the first Leica II batch. It was back at the factory in January 1933 and May/June 1935. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
beoon Posted July 19 Share #16 Posted July 19 On 7/4/2025 at 4:14 PM, jerzy said: activities are coded with 2 digit numbers in most cases, noone knows now what they mean The Leitz factory service records showing work done in the earlier years contain numbers 1 - 19 depending on service/update activity (circa 1925- 1930) You are correct that nobody knows what each individual number means and to complicate matters we see cameras in the Leitz factory service records with no entries, but obviously modified. Work performed by Leitz, London, Leitz, N.Y. or third party repairer (for example). To further complicate matters as the screw mount system design developed with newer models and additional design features this also meant the numbering system changed. Alan Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpotmaticSP Posted July 19 Share #17 Posted July 19 (edited) 2 hours ago, beoon said: The Leitz factory service records showing work done in the earlier years contain numbers 1 - 19 depending on service/update activity (circa 1925- 1930) You are correct that nobody knows what each individual number means and to complicate matters we see cameras in the Leitz factory service records with no entries, but obviously modified. Work performed by Leitz, London, Leitz, N.Y. or third party repairer (for example). To further complicate matters as the screw mount system design developed with newer models and additional design features this also meant the numbering system changed. Alan At least the first 5 codes are known. If we are to believe this snippet I came across in a Leica Facebook group. Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Edited July 19 by SpotmaticSP 1 Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/422760-leica-ii-with-strap-lugs-customization/?do=findComment&comment=5835718'>More sharing options...
beoon Posted July 19 Share #18 Posted July 19 4 hours ago, SpotmaticSP said: At least the first 5 codes are known. If we are to believe this snippet I came across in a Leica Facebook group. Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! I am led to believe that these codes are for lenses only and not the cameras unfortunately Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpotmaticSP Posted July 19 Share #19 Posted July 19 20 minutes ago, beoon said: I am led to believe that these codes are for lenses only and not the cameras unfortunately Yes. But at least it is a start! 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
beoon Posted July 19 Share #20 Posted July 19 5 minutes ago, SpotmaticSP said: Yes. But at least it is a start! Yes, In actual fact all 18 lens service codes are known, but this information is of limited use to historians. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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