HI Sonnar,
Ah, a discussion on something that has intrigued me
When I was doing the research the only indication I had for the number of lenses that were produced by Canon during the rangefinder era was a list that Peter Dechert had received from the factory, which he kindly sent me a copy. Alas this list ended at 1956 hence the box which appears in the “Type Progression Table” charts under the heading “Official # of lenses Canon produced to the End of 1956”. The other source I attained early in my research was a number of original articles by Randol Hooper, which appeared in the LHSA. I was always curious how Randol obtained his production figures he mentioned and it wasn’t until I won on eBay shortly after I went to print, a book produced by Canon Inc called the Lens Data book (dated 1981). In it was all the production # that Randol had quoted. Right from the outset when I was putting the book together, I knew when I placed a number in the box “Units between serial number range” that there would be confusion. This is one reason early in the book on page 10 is the following sub heading,
Serial numbers of lenses and hypothetical numbers of units produced
The three serial numbers I mention in the charts under the “Serial Number Range” heading are the presumed serial numbers of the first lens as well as the lowest (TYPE 1 in brackets) and highest lenses recorded at the time this book went to print. The number under “Units between Serial Number Range” is the number between the highest and lowest serial numbers and
not the number of lenses that were actually produced in that particular lens TYPE. This number could be used as an indicator of how many lenses may have been produced. A low number means that the lens is uncommon, while a high number indicates that the lens is reasonably common. Most Canon Rangefinder camera models had no sequence in their serial numbers because they were produced in batches. Early lenses released before the SERENAR 28mm f/3.5 (serial numbers starting with 10001), however, were also produced in batches. Prior to the release of the 28mmf/3.5 lens in October 1951, a Japanese tax law might have mandated that no two serial numbers be duplicated. If a lens was rejected by the qualitycontrol team at the end of production, that lens was either destroyed or placed back on the line for rectification. The serial number belonging to this lens became available on the master list. In October 1951, this law may have been rescinded, as illustrated by the fact that most new lenses released after that date had serial numbers beginning with 10001. There are exceptions.
[FONT="][1][/FONT] Some official factory records
[FONT="][2][/FONT] indicate the actual number of lenses produced, and this estimated number appears in my Lens TYPE chart under the heading “Official Number of Units Produced”.
I also mentioned it again on page 58.
This theory probably falls down when it comes to the MB 135mm f/2.5 lens and the other MB lenses as well as the Long and Extra Long Tele Lenses as I have recorded so few examples. I checked the Canon Lens Data book and frustratingly even there, they do not mention production figures for the MB lenses or the Long and Extra Long Tele Lenses, so the mystery will go on.
I just checked my database on the MB135mm f/2.5 lenses where I have recorded 11 examples to date. I noticed that there are TWO batches of numbers. The first is between #10036 and #10219(seven lenses) and #19514 and #19860 (four lenses). Whether there is some variation between the two I cannot say, as I own one example from group one and in the others group I have not recorded ownership. The whole research into the lenses after the 135mm f/4 lenses was frustrating to say the least as I could only surmise from my literature and fellow Canon collectors who owned examples.
I think the “Inked code” on the back of most lenses released after 1967 will give some indication of the Year/Month that Canon was producing their lenses. I hope that someone may start a list up of these and a pattern will unfold BUT I will leave that up to someone else.
The Canon Lens Data Book indicates that there are two TYPES of 50mm f/1.4 lenses and the difference is in the length (maybe some internal difference but will leave that up to someone else to investigate). The T1 has a length of 39mm and the T2 is 41.7mm, which is the length of my lens. In my book I measured the lengths of lenses from the front filter rim edge to the back of the screw mount whereas the book takes theirs from the front edge to the back of the lens itself and not the screw mount. They also mention a number for production of 158,388 units. Many of the later black lenses are still in peoples cupboards stored away and probably forgotten since the revolution of SLR, Auto Focus and now digital has come up on us.
On the 19mm f/3.5 lens I thought at first that the RF and FL lenses were produced at the same time but in batches, but I have recorded two lenses, one RF and one FL with the same serial number.
I have just seen a model P in an auction in NZ, which had a 50mm f/2.8 lens on it with the serial #39952. This beat a recently recorded #38690 at Westlicht auction in Germany. Since I mentioned in my book #37534 as the last # before I went to print, this has blown it out by 2418 units. I have wondered if some later lenses were sent to destinations other than North America.
I only wish I had the Lens Data book when I was doing my research as it may have cleared up some mysteries.
Makes for much head scratching and some late nights.
