Is My M2 Real???

[DeeCee3]

My first Leica 30 years ago was a pristine but used M2. I've been full circle in gear since and just this past week unloaded a perfectly good M3 so I could get back to my first love, an M2.

It came today and in trying to date it using the serial numbers chart provided by Stephen Gandy and the Leica FAQ website, I was astonished to find it apparently 😱 doesn't exist!

Its serial number is in a block that's not on the master list...the s/n is 1006xxx. Closest ones are in the 1005xxx and 1007xxx blocks. Mine's a bit of an oddball anyway as it has a lever rewind, not button.

Any ideas as to this anomaly?

dc3

 

[erikhaugsby]

Maybe it went in for service and had the top plate replaced?

 

[ferider]

Here it is:

7/5/1960 M2 with self timer from: 1004150 to:1007000 #2850

 

[FrankS]

I see it there:
7/5/1960 M2 with self timer 1004150 - 1007000
All later M2s are lever rewind.

 

[Keith]

I can't offer any insight into the serial number but the lever rewind doesn't seem odd to me. I have two M2's and they are both lever rewind ... I just thought that indicated a later model camera!

Mine are 1137*** and 1091*** 🙂

 

[JNewell]

Buttons were earlier and are less numerous. M2s came with and without the ST right up to the end.

 

[DeeCee3]

At Least It Isn't A Fake!!

At Least It Isn't A Fake!!

I appreciate the detective work very much. Apparently the s/n list I was using has some holes in it as I couldn't find it anywhere.

It's good to know that when I take it out to shoot tomorrow it won't vanish from my hands!!

dc3

 

[Vincenzo Maielli]

There are three different versions of the Leica M2:
FIRST TYPE: is without the self timer and have a little button to rewind the film.
SECOND TYPE: is without the self timer and have a little lever to rewind the film.
THIRD TYPE: have the self timer and have a little lever to rewind the film.
Mine is a third type of Leica M2. Don't exist any differentiation, in matriculation numbers, between the various Leica M2 (on the contrary of the Leica M3). My notes are drawed from book "Identfying Leica cameras" by Ghester Sartotius (www.reflex.it, english language version is available, in the section "La libreria del fotografo").
Ciao.

 

[Vincenzo Maielli]

Sorry, dear friends. Not "La libreria del fotografo" but "La Biblioteca" (The Library). Books in italian language is "Libri", book is "Libro".
Ciao.
Vincenzo

 

[ath]

There are three different versions of the Leica M2:
FIRST TYPE: is without the self timer and have a little button to rewind the film.
SECOND TYPE: is without the self timer and have a little lever to rewind the film.
THIRD TYPE: have the self timer and have a little lever to rewind the film.
Mine is a third type of Leica M2. Don't exist any differentiation, in matriculation numbers, between the various Leica M2 (on the contrary of the Leica M3). My notes are drawed from book "Identfying Leica cameras" by Ghester Sartotius (www.reflex.it, english language version is available, in the section "La libreria del fotografo").
Ciao.

I have a button rewind M2 with self timer. But according to this list it's a M1.

 

[yoyo22]

I usually find the following database quite useful for quick queries on lens or body serials: Link

 

[ath]

Thanks. This one also states, it's a M1.

 

[Vincenzo Maielli]

For Ath: the Leica M1 is basically a second type M2 without the rangefinder patch. On the front right side of the camera is the logo "M1". At the Leitz factory was possible to insert the rangefinder patch focusing system in the M1, changing the M1 in a second type M2.
Ciao.
Vincenzo

 

[ath]

Thanks, Vincenzo. They must have installed the self timer as well when converting the camera.
Seems, I have an M2 with interesting history.

 

[FrankS]

There are also 2 kinds of button rewind M2s: On the first type, the button needs to be held in throughout the rewinding process. On the second type, the button stays depressed by itself after the initial push, and does not need to be held during rewind.