Nickel Elmar sans Serial Number

[Rob-F]

I recently bought one of the nickel Elmars that have no serial number. In another thread here, I read that these were made before 1933. I'd like to see what else is known about this lens, eg, more precisely when a batch was made without serial number; whether they were all made in the same batch; whether they were all made before any Elmars were given serial numbers--basically, just whatever there is to know about them.

TIA!

 

[OldNick]

Have you examined the bronze ring that surrounds the front element using a good magnifier? See if there are VERY small numerals engraved there.

Jim N.

 

[Rob-F]

Yes I did check for that. definitely nothing there.

 

[john neal]

Rob,

The only thing I have found is probably what you already know - serials started at 80,000 in 1933. Before that lenses had no serial no. I don't think they were all made in one big batch, particularly because of the changes needed when the film to lens flange was "standardised", and the number produced. My own "11 o'clock" example from 1933 is in the range 126xxx, which seems to show that they made a lot of lenses in a year (OK, I know that numbers were allocated in batches, and not always completed in the same year).

I'm sure there are a lot of folks who would like to find out - hope you get some info.

 

[Luddite Frank]

My Leica D (S/n 77,xxx) came with nickel Elmar # 99,981... s/n stamped into the bronze ring for the front element.

It is RF-coupled and has the "11 o 'clock" inf. lock.



Luddite Frank

 

[Rob-F]

John: I see 50mm Elmar in my copy of Jim Lager's book, with a serial number of 432. So there must be exceptions to 80,000 as a starting point.

William: Thanks for this info. Mine does have the coupled mount, I didn't realize that the early ones had the serial number placed internally.

Frank: I have a recently acquired Leica D as well. I bought this early Elmar thinking it would be a good contemporary mate for the D. Mine has a 7:00 infinity lock position, though. And it is uncoated. Actually I was wanting to duplicate a D, with Elmar, that my father used to have. It was the first Leica I ever shot with. He left it in the car seat during a trip, and it was stolen. So, I wanted another for old times sake!

 

[Rob-F]

John: OK, got it, thanks! It's sort of like the way they matched the focusing mount of my 90mm Elmarit to the lens head, by serial#.

There's always more to learn . . .