Fine scratches in M3 pressure plate

[Larry Mclendon]

Hi. New here. I recently bought an early M3 and have noticed that there are what appear to be many fine scratches in the pressure plate. I wondered if these could just be polished out, but looking at the pressure plate it appears to be made of something other than metal? Did Leica make these bodies with ceramic or glass pressure plates? Thanks.

 

[Larry Mclendon]

Thanks. That's what I suspected.

 

[BTMarcais]

I thought it was the other way around...? that the glass plate in extreme cold weather DID generate static electricity that showed up in marks on the film...so they switched to metal after...?