An early production Leica II

[Giuliobigazzi]

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The Leica II has a fascinating origin story—one that involves, in a sense, two “first” serial numbers. Initially, in January 1932, serial number 72000 was designated as the starting point. However, due to the camera’s early success, additional serial numbers for unassembled IC’s were added. (My research tells me that 71500-72000 were added in March 1932, and 71200-71500 in April 1932). Ultimately making 71200 the first official Leica II. 

This is Leica 72044, one of the earliest units off the production line, equipped with the flat latch for the leitz-Agfa kassetten. Delivered to Berlin on 1.2.32 as LYDUP+KAZWO, code for camera plus two additional cassettes. If you look closely, you’ll notice that the spacing and size of the engraving also differs slightly, which swiftly changed after a couple of hundred models. 

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[UliWer]

Thank you for showing this camera!

The  entries in the delivery register are interesting as well.

There is also the "Tagebuch für Leica-Änderungen, Leitz Montage I" resissued by the German Leica Historica e.V. as "Vidom Spezial" 10/2010. The entry Nr. 16 in this diary reads (my translation):

"71200  from August 1931 production of the new camera with automatic coupling of the rangefinder with the lens. Model II.

The next Nr. 17 in the diary is:

"71225 - 71249 - These numbers were delivered to England without coupling."

Nr. 18: "ca 75000 - Early March 1932 introduction of mounts for the eyepiece to inscrew correction lenses."

If we look at the delivery register there is the remark in red with a X in red to indicate "cameras with old viewfinder lens". So is the "old viewfinder lens" the mount without the possibility to inscrew a correction lens mentioned in the diary? Your No. 72044 shouldn't have the "new mount" if it wasn't changed. Or was it really the lens which was changed from approximately No. 75000 onwards?

The delivery register also makes a point of mentioning the coupling ("Kupp" or "m. Kupp") - even though all new II models should have this feature. But for No. 72003 there is a remark "oK" which I read "ohne Kupplung". The "Diary" expressly mentions a delivery to England "without coupling". I can't guess any reason for producing such a model II without coupling or on the customer's side for asking for it. 

It is strange that the Nrs 72001 and 72002 are described as "Leane" in the delivery register - i.e. the codeword for the Ic delivered with Elmar and one film magazine. The codeword for the Model II was LYKAN, LYKUP or LYHEK. 

So after all it could be that the early II models were originally built as a "Leane" - i.e. as a Ic - and then "upgraded" to a II ("Kupp") before they were delivered, but some Nos. were not "upgraded" and remained Ic "Leane" without coupling?  

 

[UliWer]

12 minutes ago, UliWer said:

But for No. 72003 there is a remark "oK" which I read "ohne Kupplung".

I think my reading of "o.K." as "ohne Kupplung" is wrong. In an earlier thread this was already deciphered by you as "ohne Kassette" (without film cassette) which makes much more sense: 

Remains the strange delivery to London "ohne Kupplung" (without coupling).