Leica CL 50 Jahre - series designation question

[Pál_K]

It's been stated that 3500 special "50 Jahre" models of the CL were made. On the back of the camera there is a designation of the form xxx X, where xxx is a number between 001 and 500, and X is one of the letters of "LEICA".

For example, 122 E is the 122nd camera made with E; the 622nd commemorative camera overall.

Apparently Leica did this with other 50-year commemorative cameras as well.

However, using the letters from "LEICA" produces only 2500 cameras, not 3500.

How are those other cameras designated?

 

[Rob-F]

There are five letters in "LEICA" and 999 discrete numbers in three character positions.

So 999 x 5 = 4,995.

But you said it only goes to 500 for each letter? Is that for sure? I don't see why they made that choice.

Maybe they only meant to make 2500 and changed their mind?

 

[PaulDalex]

The number is 3500 for sure
My conjecture: 3500:5=700
So they numbered for each letter up to 700
Of other Leicas (like the M5) they made 1750, so 1750:5=350
And they numbered each letter up to 350

 

[PaulDalex]

I am interested
Am I right?

 

[PaulDalex]

So according to my conjecture Pal has the 822nd 50 Jahre CL

 

[Pál_K]

...
But you said it only goes to 500 for each letter? Is that for sure? I don't see why they made that choice.
...

The number 500 came from Cameraquest:

https://cameraquest.com/leicacl.htm

However, I suspect that PaulDalex is correct and 700 is indeed the count for each letter.

I like this technique that Leica has done; it seems to give the camera a bit more personality or identity. Or perhaps I'm just being romantic about this.

So according to my conjecture Pal has the 822nd 50 Jahre CL

Oh, I wish I had one, or any CL! No, I was simply reading about the CL because I thought it was a nice compact rangefinder.

 

[Rob-F]

The number is 3500 for sure
My conjecture: 3500:5=700
So they numbered for each letter up to 700
Of other Leicas (like the M5) they made 1750, so 1750:5=350
And they numbered each letter up to 350

So according to my conjecture Pal has the 822nd 50 Jahre CL

This makes the best sense.