thawkins
Well-known
I have an M3 Serial #924XXX. I have read if the M3 engraving just to the left of the serial number is larger in size than the serial number, the camera was built in Canada. Fact or fiction????
Tom
Tom
M3 place of manufacture
- Thread starter thawkins
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Stu W
Well-known
I believe that Canadian built M3's had the M3 engraving larger than the German made ones. You're serial # is for a Canadian M3. Stu
thawkins
Well-known
Seems every M3 I have looked at has the larger engraving.
projectbluebird
Film Abuser
Where did you read this? As far as I can tell, all the M's through the M4's had a model designation larger than the serial number. I thought that production didn't move to midland until the M4 and that most were clearly marked. If you look under the Leica script it tells you where the camera was made.
My M3 (997 XXX) Says quite clearly,
ERNST LEITZ GMBH
WETZLAR GERMANY
My M3 (997 XXX) Says quite clearly,
ERNST LEITZ GMBH
WETZLAR GERMANY
The Canadian Leica M3's and M2's indeed generally have larger top plate engravings than their German counterparts, and they are practically never engraved "Made in Canada."
hmm.
maybe a Leica M serial number list would be useful.
http://www.cameraquest.com/mtype.htm
Stephen
hmm.
maybe a Leica M serial number list would be useful.
http://www.cameraquest.com/mtype.htm
Stephen
projectbluebird
Film Abuser
I guess I don't understand the difference. Stephen, do you have an example you could show us? Or an approximate date/serial # range? I looked at the very comprehensive list, but the first mention of Canada is an M4 from 1974. If they were making M2's and 3's at midland, wouldn't it have been before that?
Sorry for all the questions, but now I'm curious.
Sorry for all the questions, but now I'm curious.
dll927
Well-known
Steve, of all people do you need to ask for a serial number list??? I got mine from your website!!
thawkins
Well-known
Thanks for all the replies. Yes, it does say Wetzler, Germany. In my mind it is German and I will go with that.
Thanks,
Tom
Thanks,
Tom
Stu W
Well-known
According to the serial number it is Canadian. As per the KB page the Canadian versions rate a "very rare" as opposed to the Wetzlar "fairly common". But, if you want it to be common go right ahead.
http://www.leicagallery.com/rarityratings.htm
http://www.leicagallery.com/rarityratings.htm
projectbluebird
Film Abuser
This one, right?
It's not just larger, it's MUCH larger. This is one of those things that you need to see both examples for it to make sense. That makes my M3 fall in the "common" category. Which is good, because I insist on using mine to take pictures, and I wouldn't want to give Stephen any more worries. 😛
It's not just larger, it's MUCH larger. This is one of those things that you need to see both examples for it to make sense. That makes my M3 fall in the "common" category. Which is good, because I insist on using mine to take pictures, and I wouldn't want to give Stephen any more worries. 😛
projectbluebird said:
Take another look at the list.
"M2 ELC" means "M2 Ernst Leitz Canada"
same for M3, etc
Stephen
findwolfhard
Established
M3
M3
The reason can be as simple as that,- the top cover might have been replaced and the engraving was made in some workshop, whether authorized or not.
If a cover was replaced and renumbered in Wetzlar, it could happen, that the number was much fatter, than original engraving. I have seen several examples, also owned one myself. "It was believed", so to speak, that this was done on purpose, to distinguish a replaced top. Well, this does not really make sense to me, but that was one of the many rumours.
Best regards Wolfhard
M3
The reason can be as simple as that,- the top cover might have been replaced and the engraving was made in some workshop, whether authorized or not.
If a cover was replaced and renumbered in Wetzlar, it could happen, that the number was much fatter, than original engraving. I have seen several examples, also owned one myself. "It was believed", so to speak, that this was done on purpose, to distinguish a replaced top. Well, this does not really make sense to me, but that was one of the many rumours.
Best regards Wolfhard
Last edited:
ernstk
Retro Renaissance
projectbluebird said:
According to the ELCAN website, they started making cameras and lenses in Midland in 1952.
http://www.elcan.com/About_ELCAN/ELCAN_History/
Regards
Ernst
findwolfhard
Established
Engraving
Engraving
Heres the one I was thinking of. CLE-RF´s M3
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/foru...0&d=1201549549
Look at the ingraved M3 and serialnumber.##
Thats what I meant! Definitely a replacement!
Looks like it could use a new one again!
Anyway, just do not bother! According to a veteran Leica "trouble shooter" in the worldwide service, numbering either from canada or from Wetzlar was more or less at coincidence, a lot of bodies from Canada were engraved Wetzlar! Also many "odd" numbers of black enamel M4`s kind of "preproduction" or whatever were definitely made in Canada,- but were engraved Wetzlar, regards Wolfhard
Engraving
Heres the one I was thinking of. CLE-RF´s M3
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/foru...0&d=1201549549
Look at the ingraved M3 and serialnumber.##
Thats what I meant! Definitely a replacement!
Looks like it could use a new one again!
Anyway, just do not bother! According to a veteran Leica "trouble shooter" in the worldwide service, numbering either from canada or from Wetzlar was more or less at coincidence, a lot of bodies from Canada were engraved Wetzlar! Also many "odd" numbers of black enamel M4`s kind of "preproduction" or whatever were definitely made in Canada,- but were engraved Wetzlar, regards Wolfhard
