EXA 00 - licensed to kill ?

[CameraQuest]

I have one of the very early Exas, black lens bayonet, 1/150th shutter

Serial number is .....

00

just 00 -- that is all.

Does anyone have a reference what 00 means in the Exa world?

Thanks,
Stephen

 

[Kai-san]

Are you sure there aren't more punched digits beside the 00 that has lost the white colouring? With a black ring and 1/150s it should be the RH 041 model made between 1951 and 1952. It looks like Exa prototypes had serial numbers, so maybe a production error?

 

[CameraQuest]

Are you sure there aren't more punched digits beside the 00 that has lost the white colouring? With a black ring and 1/150s it should be the RH 041 model made between 1951 and 1952. It looks like Exa prototypes had serial numbers, so maybe a production error?

no mistake. the serial number is clearly 00

 

[Pál_K]

According to this site,

http://www.wrotniak.net/photo/exakta/exa-serial.html

which is just a part of this excellent site,

http://www.wrotniak.net/photo/exakta/index.html

the first Exa serial number is 200000. So... you must have the ur-Exa!

 

[Kai-san]

That's really interesting, and I think mr. Wrotniak or Horst Neuhaus of photobutmore.de would be interested too. I would send them an email with photos, maybe they have some info. There is also this site: http://www.exaktaphile.com/index.html which lists the serial numbers of Exa / Exakta cameras.
I had a similar discovery last year with my Yashica YE that has a lower serial than previously registered.

 

[CameraQuest]

 

[Pál_K]

As Spock would say: fascinating.

With such a serial number, you’ve got something interesting there, no doubt.

 

[Kai-san]

Very nice looking camera, and that Tessar looks tempting!

 

[Kai-san]

I took the liberty to send an email to Horst Neuhaus of photobutmore.de regarding the serial no. 00, and here is his reply:

"Usually, Ihagee gave preproduction cameras such low numbers. I know some of them with numbers like 00xx or 000xx. But I haven't seen a camera without a follow-up number behind 00. If no milling of a previous number is recognizable, it could also be an error engraving or a camera for internal purposes. Since the photos show no signs of use, it is, in my opinion, an in-house camera from around 1952/53."

 

[Muggins]

That is a really pretty camera! Do I remember right that the low top shutter speed is because the mirror acts as the shutter?