nikon s3 black
nikon s3 black
your camera has the s3 olympic top plate with correct number for this series . it was ( according to roberts book nikon rangefinder system ) a group of 2000 cameras production began april 1964 . s3 cameras had not been produced since nov 1960 .
the top plate is original olympic as is the rewind knob , advance rewind ring , and the nikon f style black trim around the frame counter .
the black nikon front plate is late with the wider lines that make the letters .
the back has made in japan engraved and the film reminder is different than earlier . all these would indicate 1964/1965 black nikon s3 olympic ( olympic is just a nickname not a factory designation .)
the focus mount is marked in meters as most all of the olympic black s3 were
what is puzzleing is the older style self timer lever and the cloth shutter curtains .
these would indicate an s3 chrome camera of earlier vintage .
only the black s3 from 1964/1965 had the titanium curtains . no other s3 or s4 had them .
i would say most of the black parts are original - tough to say as they may be touched up paint .
i had read an article somewhere that the s3 olympic was produced from parts in stock . very few new parts were made for the 2000 cameras produced .
it is most likely not a completely original camera .perhaps a production variation , however unlikely .
if it works well and the price is good , then it has value .
in my opinion the black parts are original and perhaps transfered to another earlier camera .
however that the focus in meters would say that the body is original .
