ltm 2.5cm + dating early Nikkor serials?

[tonal1]

Does anyone know how to date the 1940 era Nikkor ltm lens serial numbers? And how about years of production for the 2.5cm W-Nikkor C in Leica Thread Mount?

 

[xayraa33]

Does anyone know how to date the 1940 era Nikkor ltm lens serial numbers? And how about years of production for the 2.5cm W-Nikkor C in Leica Thread Mount?

That lens was made from Nov. 1953 to 1961 so it is not a 1940s lens.

Robert Rotoloni in his Nikon RF book says that around 2500 were made in that time frame with serial number examples of 40357 for the year 1953 to ser.# 404481 for the year 1956.

These are for Nikon S mount but the LTM versions would still carry the same serial number progression scheme.

 

[Mackinaw]

From Rotoloni, production began in November, 1953 and lasted until 1961. About 950 were made on LTM, and about 1,900 in Bayonet mount. Serial numbers began at 402501.

Jim B.

 

[tonal1]

Oh, not 1940's. Thanks for that. I must have miss-read something to that effect. I suppose the later production would explain the nice coatings on these.

Serial numbers: the lenses I've seen all have one of two three digit "prefixes" in the serial numbers. The ones I've seen all say 402xxx 502xxx. Does this indicate anything meaningful, like batches or date codes?

 

[Mackinaw]

Again, from Rotoloni, serial numbers in the 502XXX-503XXX range were all chrome-barrel models in LTM.

Serial numbers from 402501 to 403600 were chrome-on-brass, while 403600 to 404735 were black barrel.

Jim B.

 

[James24]

Just to add to Jim's post, RR also notes that LTM lenses are also intermixed in the 402xxx to 403xxx batch but there are no black LTM lenses.

 

[tonal1]

Great information. Thanks everyone! It looks llke I need to pick up a copy of that book by Rotoloni.