Nikkor LTM Nikkor 50/2 Collapsible early Tokyo Version

Nikkor M39 screw mount lenses
Garrett/Goamules, love the shots of the mountainous areas and the flowers. It makes me want to go to South Texas during the cool spring. Currently it is probably over 110 degrees and crawling with illegals. I find cans and empty gallon jugs littered on the ranch. I found a pair of underwear in a above ground blind one time, Ugh!
 
This is my copy. Anyone have knowledge of the Nikkor serial numbers? This one is rather interesting
 

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splitimageview said:
This is my copy. Anyone have knowledge of the Nikkor serial numbers? This one is rather interesting
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A rare collapsible 50/2 lens! That's a very early lens from the fourth serial number batch. The first batch have serial numbers starting with 609 (means September 1946) and the second batch have serial numbers starting with 708 (means August 1947) for a total in both these batches of around 780 lenses. Then came a small third batch with serial numbers starting with 806 (means June 1948), then came the fourth batch with serial numbers starting with 811 (means November 1948). There were about 2,000 lenses made in the third and fourth batches. Later lenses in the fourth batch left the factory as a "hybrid" rigid, using an insert to stop the lens from collapsing. The collapsible format was then dropped and lenses in subsequent batches were all non-collapsing rigid lenses. Data sourced from the Complete Nikon Rangefinder System by Bob Rotoloni (a book worth owning if you're interested in the history of this gear).
 
Thanks very much! I would have replied earlier but didn't receive a notification.

Is there an estimate of the total 811 batch?
 
There's no exact number in Rotoloni's Nikon RF book for the 811 batch, but the 806 batch was only a few hundred lenses, so the 811 batch is around 2,000 minus a few hundred lenses.
 
I have an 811 lens as well. It's a nice lens. Couldn't resist when I found it poorly listed on eBay for $60. I have quite the collection of early Nikkor 5cm lenses, including the collapsible f/3.5 as well.
 
Corran, excellent bargain. :) My copy of the f/2 has flawless glass, rather amazing for its age. How do you like the 50/3.5?
 
The f/3.5 is a nice little lens and definitely has a different "flavor" than the Leica equivalent (I have both, in LTM of course).

I haven't done any formal "head-to-head" testing, but maybe someday.
 
jonmanjiro said:
A rare collapsible 50/2 lens! That's a very early lens from the fourth serial number batch. The first batch have serial numbers starting with 609 (means September 1946) and the second batch have serial numbers starting with 708 (means August 1947) for a total in both these batches of around 780 lenses. Then came a small third batch with serial numbers starting with 806 (means June 1948), then came the fourth batch with serial numbers starting with 811 (means November 1948). There were about 2,000 lenses made in the third and fourth batches. Later lenses in the fourth batch left the factory as a "hybrid" rigid, using an insert to stop the lens from collapsing. The collapsible format was then dropped and lenses in subsequent batches were all non-collapsing rigid lenses. Data sourced from the Complete Nikon Rangefinder System by Bob Rotoloni (a book worth owning if you're interested in the history of this gear).
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Thank you for all this information. My lens is 8112702. So it was made between 1948 and when? What number did they change to rigid, non collapsible mounts?
 
goamules said:
Thank you for all this information. My lens is 8112702. So it was made between 1948 and when? What number did they change to rigid, non collapsible mounts?
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... and 1949.

From Rotoloni's book... collapsible screw mount lenses with 811xxxx serial numbers are seen as high as 8112979.

The first S-mount "hybrid" rigid lens have serial numbers between 8111700 and 8112903.

The first true rigid 5cm f2 was released in 1950 using serial numbers starting with 5008xxxx (for August 1950).
 
PAN F said:
I have a Nikkor 5cm/f2 early collapsible Tokyo (Leica screw thread) lens from the second batch (August 1947) serial no. 708599 which is in quite good condition considering it's age. I think that the Nikon rangefinder version was fitted to some late Nikon 1's and early Nikon M's.
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Beautiful example you've got there. A little over a year older than my copy. :)
 
splitimageview said:
Beautiful example you've got there. A little over a year older than my copy. :)
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Many thanks splitimageview. All these collapsible Nikkors are excellent early post-war lenses and it is a marvel
that they could be in production in Occupied Japan, and of such fine quality, so soon after the end of World War II.
 
I have found the following 50/2 Nikkor early serial number ranges from a list produced by Chris Sap and updated by Wes Loder in 2007.
This list includes both Nikon bayonet and LTM fitting.


50/2 MIOJ Sept 1946____ 609.. - 609...
_ collapsible Aug 1947___ 7084 - 708691 (mine 708599 LTM)
_________Jun 1948____ 80625 - 806511
_________Nov 1948____ 81116 - 8111700
MIOJ/hybrid Oct 1949__ 8111780 - 8112903
MIOJ/rigid ____ 1950 _ 50080000 - 50080781
_____________________617000 - 622000
_____________1953____ 622000 - 662000
______________________714000 - 768206

I am sure that more additions to the known ranges of the 50/2 collapsible and rigid types have
been made in the last 8 years but I thought that this information might be of interest to early
Nikkor LTM lens users.
I read recently R.Rotoloni's book "The complete Nikon rangefinder system" that the 708 batch contained only 12 Leica Screw Thread lenses and I owned one of these (Lens Serial no. 708599).
 
I'm very glad I bought mine. It's pretty amazing that Japan rebuilt so many industries after WWII, so quickly. Cameras and optics was their first, main one, but then came motorcycles, cars, and so much more.
 
Does anyone know if there were any LTM lenses in the first batch in Sept 1946 (609 serial nos) when the Nikon 1 was launched?.
Perhaps an NHS member on the forum might know?.
 
PAN F said:
Many thanks splitimageview. All these collapsible Nikkors are excellent early post-war lenses and it is a marvel
that they could be in production in Occupied Japan, and of such fine quality, so soon after the end of World War II.
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Yes indeed.

My father purchased three Nikkors when he was stationed in Japan during the Korean war, I think he bought them in 1951. Virtually all the family photos for the next thirty years were shot with those lenses:

Collapsible 50/2
35/3.5
135/4

The 35 vignetted quite a bit, but was still pleasing. The 50 and 135 Sonnars are fantastic lenses even today and the Kodachrome (ASA 10) slides still have that wonderful color and scan beautifully.

PAN F said:
_________Nov 1948____ 81116 - 8111700
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Interesting. So roughly 2900 collapsibles were made...
 
I'm still enjoying my 1948-49 Nikkor when I put it on a camera. Yesterday we got our mule out, it being so nice (78 degrees here in the Southwest).

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