Black Dial Contax IIa and IIIa

raid

raid

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What is the information given by the letter before the serial number of a Contax?

Today, I saw here a Contax with Uxxxx being sold as a rare version. I had no clue of such versions before.

What about serial numbers starting with a letter A or S ?
 
Raid

I have a IIa with a serial number that starts with U and along with the usual Zeiss Ikon emblem on the back it has a smaller one on the front leather above the self timer. I read on RFF that this was to commemorate some milestone of Zeiss Ikon production (don't remember exactly what) what was the asking price on the one you saw?

how did your wish for Gas free summer go?
 
Not bad at all; I bought inexpensive items after stating my "wish" here.
As for your Contax, it seems like you have a more expensive version of the IIa. Good for you.
The Contax IIa sold here for a rather low price. I forgot how much it was, but you can find the sale in the classified under CONTAX.
 
The letters refer to different serial # blocks, w/U having a fairly low #. All is explained in Kuc's "On The Trail of the Contax" books (2 volumes).

raid said:
What is the information given by the letter before the serial number of a Contax?

Today, I saw here a Contax with Uxxxx being sold as a rare version. I had no clue of such versions before.

What about serial numbers starting with a letter A or S ?
Click to expand...
 
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Per Kuc's 2nd volume, that's a commemorative model made in 1952 to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Zeiss Ikon's founding in 1926 (cameras were made between '51 & '52). I bought the 1 sold here by f2eyelevel (which he had CLAed/restored himself); based on Kuc, I think he got his dates wrong in the ad (30th instead of 25th anniversary).

MISH said:
I have a IIa with a serial number that starts with U and along with the usual Zeiss Ikon emblem on the back it has a smaller one on the front leather above the self timer. I read on RFF that this was to commemorate some milestone of Zeiss Ikon production (don't remember exactly what) what was the asking price on the one you saw?
Click to expand...
 
Last edited:
Thanks

Thanks

Thanks for the link!
Based on it, my IIa was made from sometime 7/1950 to 4/1951. I have a rather early model then.

My IIIa was made from 11/1953 to 9/1954.

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Contax IIa, mechanical sync

Letter, Serial Number, Production date
P, 97,001-100,000, 11/1949 to 6/1950
S, 20,001-28,000, 7/1950 to 4/1951
T, 5,001-9,000, 3/1951 to 7/1951
T, 28,001-35,000, 8/1951 to 12/1951
U, 1-5,000, 1/1952 to 5/1952
V, 15,001-20,000, 7/1952 to 8/1952
X, 1-3,000, 9/1952 to 10/1952
Y, 57,001-62,001, 11/1952 to 3/1953
A, 43,001-46,001, 4/1953 to 10/1953

Contax IIa, PC sync

Letter, Serial Number, Production dates
A, 46,000-53,000, 11/1953 to 9/1954
B, 90,001-95,000, 10/1954 to 2/1955
F, 20,001-25,000, 3/1955 to7/1956
Q, 30,001-33,000, 7/1956 to 9/1957
R, 33,001-34,000, 11/1956 to 4/1958
L, 85,001-87,000, 4/1958 to 2/1961

Contax IIIa, mechanical sync

Letter, Serial Number, Production dates
T, 35,001-40,000, 3/1951 to 7/1952
V, 20,001-25,000, 7/1952 to 10/1952
Y, 52,001-57,000, 11/1952 to 3/1953
A, 53,001-63,000, 4/1953 to 10/1953

Contax IIIa, PC sync

Letter, Serial Number, Production dates
B, 95,001-100,000, 11/1953 to 9/1954
C, 1-5,000, 10/1954 to 2/1955
D, 76,001-86,000, 3/1955 to 1/1956
F, 25,001-30,000, 2/1956 to 8/1956
L, 75,001-85,000, 7/1956 to 7/1961
O, 86,001-91,000, 11/1956 to 7/1957
Q, 1 to 25, 1960
R, 34.001-38,000, 2/1961 to 8/1962
 
My IIa starts out Y5900x and according to these listings, was manufactured in 1952/53. Thanks. I thought the 59 meant 1959. Now I know!

Gene
 
thanks for the info Furcafe... maybe you can answer another serial number question i have
I also have another body with a serial number V15*** that the list says would have been a black dial made in 7-1952 to 8-1952 however it has the color dial and the PC style flash... were these cameras ever updated to color dial? iam sure changing the shutter speed dial would not be that difficult but when i sent one of the black dials in for a CLA i was told the only way to update the PC was to change the whole top
 
Frankly, I don't know the answer to your question. It is certainly possible that Zeiss Ikon offered an upgrade service, as the Contax was their flagship product for pros & advanced/wealthy amateurs, etc. It is also possible that ZI had some serial #s in the "V" block that were unused/left-over for some reason & decided to use them in later production.

MISH said:
thanks for the info Furcafe... maybe you can answer another serial number question i have
I also have another body with a serial number V15*** that the list says would have been a black dial made in 7-1952 to 8-1952 however it has the color dial and the PC style flash... were these cameras ever updated to color dial? iam sure changing the shutter speed dial would not be that difficult but when i sent one of the black dials in for a CLA i was told the only way to update the PC was to change the whole top
Click to expand...
 
Black dial SN blocks used on color dial

Black dial SN blocks used on color dial

I have a color dial IIIa with SN A609**. The A block was the last assigned to the black dial models. This number is very late in the sequence of 10,000 numbers that were assigned in that block, and was evidently used after the black dials were discontinued. It would date from the later part of 4/53 to 10/53 in production.

I don't believe that the models could be upgraded. According to the Sherer site, there are substantial differences, rather than a simple switch of a few parts.

I'd be interested in hearing from anyone with a model that does not conform to the tables. I also own a 50/1.5 CZ lens with a number that is not assigned in Thiele. There is a note ion Keesing about a 50/2 with an 800K range number that was produced in 1951, two years before the name change from Z-O. I have been unable to find any other information about it, including an inquiry to the ZHS.

There are more things.....

Harry
 
this post gave me another thought on my U serial # IIA ... when i got my IIA kit it came with several bodies and i never gave it much thought about which lens cap came on which camera but one lens cap has a black leather insert covering the face of it , it has the zeiss emblem on it and it says carl zeiss jenna on it ( all the cameras came with a 50mm f2 jenna sonnar) i have not seen another one like it.
is it possible it came on the commemorative camera? has anyone else seen one of these?
 
I've got one on my 135mm f4. I'm not sure that it is leather. Also mine is Jena with one n. Have you given yours a ping with you fingernail? seems like it is painted to look like leather.
 
I stand corrected it is black paint (and more embarrassing Jena does have only one n)

(but i sure like the look)

i learn more from this site every day
 
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