chris_livsey Posted October 26, 2008 Share #1 Posted October 26, 2008 Advertisement (gone after registration) I have recently purchased an uncoated collapsible Summar 5cm F2 for a project I have in mind. Being new to these older lenses, this is serial 217254, I don't know if this is usual. There is a letter A engraved on the rear of the infinity lock. Is this "normal" and does it signify anything ? 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! 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/66579-help-please-engraving-on-summar/?do=findComment&comment=696160'>More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted October 26, 2008 Posted October 26, 2008 Hi chris_livsey, Take a look here Help please engraving on Summar. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
luigi bertolotti Posted October 26, 2008 Share #2 Posted October 26, 2008 Curios... I checked mine (248306) and it halso has a letter engraved in the same place (lock looks identical to yours)... but it's a "B", and I never noticed it... ... Summar rectractable is considered such a common lens that I never inspected it with attention. One possibility that comes to my mind : my item has the scale in feet... is it yours scaled in meters ? If so, could be a sort of identifier for the department that made the scale engraving... could have a sense, imho, given a certain workflow organization in the assembly/machining line. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_livsey Posted October 26, 2008 Author Share #3 Posted October 26, 2008 It's my first LTM lens so has been subject to close scrutiny It is indeed marked in mtr scale so all we need is some more examples to confirm your theory. I was surprised to see an IR mark "R" on the scale on such an early lens. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeonardT Posted October 26, 2008 Share #4 Posted October 26, 2008 I have recently purchased an uncoated collapsible Summar 5cm F2 for a project I have in mind. Being new to these older lenses, this is serial 217254, I don't know if this is usual. There is a letter A engraved on the rear of the infinity lock. Is this "normal" and does it signify anything ? Normally all of the screw mount lenses with infinity locks are stamped with a code. I believe these codes signify the exact focal length of the lens so the lens components can be matched during the manufacturing process. M lenses are also coded with a small number located after infinity mark and meter M on the focus ring. Some lenses not marked in either place may be marked with a number scratched inside the lens barrel. Len Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
luigi bertolotti Posted October 26, 2008 Share #5 Posted October 26, 2008 Normally all of the screw mount lenses with infinity locks are stamped with a code. I believe these codes signify the exact focal length of the lens so the lens components can be matched during the manufacturing process. M lenses are also coded with a small number located after infinity mark and meter M on the focus ring. Some lenses not marked in either place may be marked with a number scratched inside the lens barrel. Len Yes, can be the other reasonable explanation... such identifiers are sometimes "hidden" (like the ones roughly hand-engraved in the mounts) sometimes evident (like, for instance, the "19" after the "m" symbol in the scale of my Summicron 50); I hope some poster will tell us which letter they find on their Summars... many forum members have one. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Philippe D. Posted October 26, 2008 Share #6 Posted October 26, 2008 Mine have a "00" or is it a 8 or a B ? I guess it's zero-zero. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
luigi bertolotti Posted October 26, 2008 Share #7 Posted October 26, 2008 Advertisement (gone after registration) Mine have a "00" or is it a 8 or a B ?I guess it's zero-zero. ... smells like mine... I said it's a "B" , but mainly for Chris' one has surely an "A".. : my engraving could indeed be an 8 or even two "o" superposed... what is number and distance scale of yours ? Well... maybe I'll make a quick pic of mine... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Philippe D. Posted October 26, 2008 Share #8 Posted October 26, 2008 ... what is number and distance scale of yours ? Scale in Meters, s/n 256509 = 1935. Cheers Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jc_braconi Posted October 26, 2008 Share #9 Posted October 26, 2008 nickels & chromes, in mtr, all with an 8. Luigi, have you got your PM ? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
earleygallery Posted October 26, 2008 Share #10 Posted October 26, 2008 I have 3, all MTR, all B Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
luigi bertolotti Posted October 26, 2008 Share #11 Posted October 26, 2008 nickels & chromes, in mtr, all with an 8.Luigi, have you got your PM ?[/quote] Yes, and I AM IN TROUBLE : in Italy they say "la notte porta consiglio...";) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
luigi bertolotti Posted October 26, 2008 Share #12 Posted October 26, 2008 Scale in Meters, s/n 256509 = 1935. Cheers OK, meters and "B" or "8" or whathellitis... my hypotesis proves wrong... And Len is probably right. Another hypotesis that came to my mind was that the "A" could have some relation with a factory modification of the lens... Leiz offered a service to convert rigid Summars in retractable... but the s/n of Chris' item seems too high for a "converted rigid". Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jc_braconi Posted October 26, 2008 Share #13 Posted October 26, 2008 Ha ha Elmar 3,5/50 Old Nickel with european aperture numbers 5 Nickel's with european aperture numbers 6 Chrome's with universal aperture numbers 7 2 Elmar RS wearing a 9 ! 28's & 35's no number Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
luigi bertolotti Posted October 26, 2008 Share #14 Posted October 26, 2008 Ha ha I just look at an Elmar RS it wear a 9 !Have to check the others... And MY Elmar RS has a 7, always under the lock !!! Damn... > 20 years with these lenses and, wouldn't it be for Chris, I would never noticed these tiny engravings... really, there is always something to learn, in the Leica world...... thank you, Chris !!! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jc_braconi Posted October 26, 2008 Share #15 Posted October 26, 2008 Damn... > 20 years with these lenses and, wouldn't it be for Chris, I would never noticed these tiny engravings... really, there is always something to learn, in the Leica world...... thank you, Chris !!! I noticed this numbers long time ago as I make a CLA to this lenses but do not pay more attention about their significative. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_livsey Posted October 26, 2008 Author Share #16 Posted October 26, 2008 I noticed this numbers long time ago as I make a CLA to this lenses but do not pay more attention about their significative. I am cursed with curiosity and the need to know. Still, we all live and learn. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeonardT Posted October 26, 2008 Share #17 Posted October 26, 2008 My Summar has an 8 (or as does my old 50mm/3.5 nickel Elmar. My Elmar RS has a 6. Len Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Filip_CK Posted October 26, 2008 Share #18 Posted October 26, 2008 My summar no 206824 has 8 or B too Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
stunsworth Posted October 26, 2008 Share #19 Posted October 26, 2008 My summar no 206824 has 8 or B too As does mine. Maybe 'A' identifies the aspherical model. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
UliWer Posted October 27, 2008 Share #20 Posted October 27, 2008 Mine have a "00" or is it a 8 or a B ?I guess it's zero-zero. My guess was that it was the "vertical 8" for infinity, but i never happened to see the meaning of putting this sign below the lock. Both my Summar (No. 3244xx) and Summitar (No. 5232xx) have it, both have the meter-scale. On postwar 50-Elmars (bayonet) i can't find anything similar. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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