Serial no stamped anywhere else but top plate?

[ImpMan71]

Hi,
I have an early LII (black) which for some unknown reason has had the serial no scratched off the top plate.
I inherited a lot of stuff from my step dad a few years ago so am unable to ask him the history of it.
Can anyone tell me if the serial no. is marked anywhere else inside the camera, which would become visible if it was dismantled?
Many Thanks for any info,
Colin

 

[john neal]

Colin,

If you remove the body shell, the serial will be scratched down the side of the shutter crate.
I have a IA with the same problem - turned out to be a 5-digit from 1931!

 

[ImpMan71]

Thanks a lot for that John.
I need to pluck up the courage & give my Fed 1 a CLA before I have a go at dismantling the Leica!
Cheers,
Colin

 

[john neal]

Colin,

It's not hard on these old bodies without slow speeds - remove the lens mount, 4 screws on the front and 5 or 6 around the top plate.

the only things to really watch for are the shims under the lens mount (if any) and not losing the pressure plate springs.

 

[ImpMan71]

Thanks,
If I get a chance I will look at it later in the week - I will let you know what it is if all goes well!

 

[John Shriver]

It may also be engraved on the top plate under the rangefinder housing. That's the case on my IIIa.

 

[john neal]

John,

That's right - I think that practice started with the IIIa. All the really old Barnacks that I have seen (I & II bodies, pre 1935) have the no scratched on the vertical, front, face of the crate. Even my Ic (1939) was the same, and that effectively had a IIIc mechanism, minus slow speeds.