Pristine M3 on ebay

[tonys]

Hi All,

this M3 on ebay is described as pristine.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=110597562959&_trksid=p2759.l1259#ht_1122wt_1141

Just a couple of questions. given its serial number how could it be single stroke? The seller says it has never been serviced, therefore it could not have been converted to SS.

Secondly, the serial no would indicate it is a DS which would have come with the "dog ear" type eyelets. This one has the later eyelets.

Can anyone reconcile these anomalies?

Regards,

Tony

 

[Nate Butler]

Didn't Leica used 2 different "L" seals to indicate whether the camera had been serviced/opened? Cameras shipped from Leica had a raised "L" seal - but cameras serviced by Leica prior to the early 1980s had their seals replaced with a stamped "L". I can't tell from the photos which one it is, but is it possible that it's a DS converted to SS?

 

[tonys]

The other peculiar thing is that the eyepiece seems to be a later version as well.

Any thoughts/comments would be appreciated.

 

[sc_rufctr]

That looks like a new one! 😱 807,169

From Cameraquest >>> http://www.cameraquest.com/mtype.htm

Date, Camera, Starting, Ending, Batch
1/1/1955, M3, 800000 to 807500, 7500

The change to single stroke happened in 1958 (919,251) so this camera should be duel stroke.
However if it was converted by Leica that may explain the Leica seal.