Leica Maker's engraving inside base plate

[dave y]

Hi,
I'm just looking around my new Leica and noticed on the inside of the removable base plate is a hand engraving. It is a number and then what i imagine is a name. Would this be the name of the person that made the Leica? Also is this normal on all Leicas?
Dave

 

[jke]

If it is a nine digit number, it is most likely the social security number of the former owner.

 

[dave y]

Well the serial number is engraved ( scratched on the inside ) .
It has a d stamped off the middle and also Scratched on there is 6379 KG Ava??ynd? 12 10 72h.
I can't make out all of the letters because of the handwriting.
So would this of been done by a previous owner?

 

[Bill58]

I shudder (shutter?) to think of all the fine cameras in the USA that were ruined by owners who used a Sears vibrating engraving tool to put their driver's license number in conspicuous places because of the sharp rise of home burglaries in the 70s-80s. I wonder if anything engraved was ever returned after a theft.

Hint:I put my number on practically everything I owned.

Bill

 

[ZeissFan]

When I was in the military, I used a laundry stamp to mark my albums because guys would borrow and never return. I eventually stopped loaning my albums, because guys handled them roughly. I imagine they also would be the guys who beat the heck out of their camera gear.

 

[dave y]

Silly me i was thinking that when a maker finished a camera they put there name inside.

 

[Al Kaplan]

They used to suggest engraving our Social Security numbers on everything so if it was stolen it could be identified. Now we're told to that we should be careful that somebody doesn't steal the S.S. number itself. Crazy!

 

[Beemermark]

I have a real nice M4 that has a phne number scratched on the top. Drives me nuts and has for the last 12~15 years I've owned it. Some day I going to call the number and chew the person on the other end out for being so stupid -🙂

 

[dan denmark]

traditionally, fine watches and silver tableware were marked with a name and date inside the case covers or bottoms of bases (respectively) when the object was repaired. it is an international tradition whch is still done in many places so it may be the mark of a repairer.
-dd