Funny M3 serial number

[sparrow6224]

Can anyone offer an explanation for the odd unreality of the typeface of the "M3" plus serial number on this apparently genuine M3? I'm wondering if that's how they did replacement tops. Taht's not the standard I don't believe.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/370750167443?ssPageName=STRK:MESINDXX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1436.l2649

 

[seanbonner]

Looks like it was just assembled in Canada but is legit

http://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/companies/Leica/Leica-M3/M3chrome-ELC1955/index.htm

 

[johannielscom]

The bigger 'M3' signals the body was made in Canada. For some reason the Canadian M3's have abigger typeface on the 'M3' than on the rest.

Might be that the Canadian factory used a different typeface than the German factory for the serial number as well, not sure about that. If they weren't this might indeed be a replacement top plate, not sure on that either.

It's apparent that we need somebody who actually knows something here 😀


EDIT Sean beat me to it. And his link shows that the mystery is already solved: all Canadian camera's shown there have several differences in configurations of the serial number: a space xxx xxx versus xxxxxx, spacing between the 'M3' and the serial number, and there obviously are two different typefaces used, for instance observe the number '7' in those serial numbers, it differs.

 

[Tom A]

It does not look like a Leica (Germany or Canada) engraving. Probably a replacement top-plate at some time (they were blank, no serial number engraved). The bigger distributors had their own engraving machines and would remove the old top-plate (and were supposed to destroy it) and re-engrave the correct number on the new top-plate.
This engraving is a bit strange - the M3 is larger than even the Canadian usual one and it is too sharp edged to be right. You can actually see the "cut" through the chrome. Leica would supply templates for the correct type face - this looks a bit hobbled together.

 

[sparrow6224]

Tom -- that's what I thought. The camera looks legit however.

 

[steveniphoto]

it is odd but if it end up selling for anywhere near the $400 mark i'd hop on it anyways as long as it works properly.

 

[stratcat]

I'm certainly no expert but, what about the rewind knob in the 3rd. picture? The center post looks much smaller than usual with just one red spot. And the flat head screws, one between the eyepiece and the flash socket and the other at the far right?

The 98.4% feedback value for the seller is not encouraging either.

 

[splitimageview]

Early M3s had that style of rewind. They also had four extra screws holding on the top plate; two front, two rear.

Here's an early M3 I painted some time ago showing the two rear top plate screws, still in chrome. And the single dot rewind.

And the two front plate screws.

 

[stratcat]

Beautiful camera! Thanks for taking the time to improve my feeble knowledge of the M3's history! 🙂

 

[oskar.marus]

This might be a dumb question, my m3 has different shutter speeds on the dial.

1 - 2 - 4 - 8 - 15 - 30 - 60 - 125 ... is it a single vs double stroke thing?

Cheers 🙂

 

[freeline]

This might be a dumb question, my m3 has different shutter speeds on the dial.

1 - 2 - 4 - 8 - 15 - 30 - 60 - 125 ... is it a single vs double stroke thing?

Cheers 🙂

It is also a sign to know your M3 is single or double stroke. With these speeds, it is single stroke type.

 

[BNLee]

It is also a sign to know your M3 is single or double stroke. With these speeds, it is single stroke type.

Actually it is not, the scientific shutter speeds (1-2-5-10...) changed to the geometric shutter speeds (1-2-4-8...) in the double stroke line.

Here's the reference: http://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/companies/Leica/Leica-M3/1954-60/index3.htm

Don't ask, I LOVE my M3 to the extent I had to go read the history about it...😀 Actually everyone loves their cameras... Don't they?

 

[lam]

I love this forum 🙂 Learn something new everyday.