Film adavance Marks on Shutter Speed Dial?

[Robert Hooper]

I notice well defined strike marks around the shutter speed dial of my "new" Leica M2 caused by continuous striking of the film advance lever.

Does this indicate the film advance lever is out of adjustment or that the pivot is worn out?

Thanks.

 

[payasam]

A bit of the advance lever of my M2 has been "eaten out" by this repeated striking. No bother.

 

[cole]

My M2's shutter speed dial has similar little bite marks taken out by the advance lever. Quite common for the little guys... after 40-some years of use, they tend to show their age a little! 😉

Depending on where on the dial the marks are particularly located, one can get an idea of what sort of photog. used the camera in its past life. I know Tom Abrahamsson is fairly gifted as a medium between M2's and their histories based on this criteria... perhaps he can provide more information!

 

[aniMal]

Yes - that is what is really fascinating with older cameras... I remember seeing exactly what shutter settings my first M2 used to have, and from a combination of that, scratches, smell & feel you get a pretty good idea about the previous owner(s) !

 

[Richard G]

Is it regular bumping of the back of the camera or is it the extravagant habit of letting the advance lever spring back unimpeded after cocking the shutter? I agree it is interesting to see what were the most used shutter speed choices of the previous owner. I have had mine 30 years and I don't think I have added much in the way of dents to the dial to those acquired in its first 20 years..