Summilux 50 Type 1 serialnumber

[firebird]

According to what I have found on net the Summilux Type 1 would have serialnumbers ranging between 1,645,300 - 1,844,000

I have one with serialnumber 1,644,610

Does anyone know the serialnumber history of the 'lux and have an explenation for this ?

 

[Flyfisher Tom]

here is a site for the serial number and production dates :

http://www.forloren.dk/lbf/leica_lens_serial.htm

unfortunately, it does not break it down into specific lenses

 

[rover]

I still like the KB Camera Pages, but your serial number does seem to be an early one.

I would guess that these lists all come from a similar source and may not necessarily be 100% accurate.

 

[firebird]

Thanks for your reply !
According to your list Tom my lens should origin from 1958
According to other sources the Summilux 50 was launched 1959

Does anyone know more about the early history of this lens?

 

[Maurice]

That's a coincidence! I have number 1.644.150...I also don't know nothing about this lense-except that it's from 1958/1959...

 

[Flyfisher Tom]

I wonder if your lenses are prototypes then? Might be rare samples.

 

[peter_n]

The serial nrs. should be in the Hove Leica book. I'll look it up when I get home tonight.

 

[Maurice]

I don't think they're prototypes-perhaps pre-production models?

 

[peter_n]

OK I completely forgot to look this up last night, sorry about that chaps. The bible (AKA Leica Pocket Book 7th ed. by Hove Books) 😀 has the following on p. 137:

• Summilux Type I: Manufactured 1959 - 1961
• Product codes: SOOME and 11114 (chrome), 11113 (black, bayonet), SOWGE and 11014 (chrome, screw mount)
• Serial nrs: 1640601 - 1844000
• Total production: ~13,000 bayonet, ~550 screw mount

So there you have it. firebird your serial nr. 1644610 and Maurice yours of 1644150 both look like they were probably manufactured in 1959.

 

[firebird]

Thanks Peter for your excellent answer.
This also confirms the "rumors" that their exist screw mount versions of this lens.

...again...thank you !!

 

[venchka]

Thanks Peter for your excellent answer.
This also confirms the "rumors" that their exist screw mount versions of this lens.

...again...thank you !!

Yes, and even rumors of a LTM collapsable 50mm Summicron.

 

[Rob-F]

Yes, and even rumors of a LTM collapsable 50mm Summicron.

That's more than a rumor. I have one.

 

[bythelight]

1640601 was the beginning of Summilux-M 50mm in 1958.

 

[David Murphy]

Yikes! A screw mount Summilux V1

I can imagine these would cost a pretty penny if any come up for sale. What a gem.

 

[Freakscene]

According to what I have found on net the Summilux Type 1 would have serialnumbers ranging between 1,645,300 - 1,844,000

I have one with serialnumber 1,644,610

Does anyone know the serialnumber history of the 'lux and have an explenation for this ?

First 50/1.4 was 1,640,601 according to Erwin Puts and Leica’s records. 548 were ltm of the full run of about 19,600 lenses.

 

[Erik van Straten]

The optics of the first Summilux lenses (numbers from 16XXXXX) were not designed by Leitz, but by TTH (Taylor, Taylor and Hobson) in England. A few of them, about 500, are in black paint. The mounts of these lenses were made by Leitz themselves, but the glass elements were made by TTH. As a result of this co-operation the lenses were extremely expensive. This was the reason why Leitz came finally with a design of their own. However, this newer lens is not nearly as good as the TTH lens. It suffers from severe barrel distortion.
The TTH Summilux has true straight lines.
The black paint versions of the TTH lens are at full aperture sharper than the chrome ones.
Their coating has a different color, red/orange. The coating of the chrome lenses has a blue/yellow cast.

The 50mm f1.4 TTH lens in black paint is the best Leica M-mount 50mm lens I've used sofar.

gelatin silver print (summilux 50mm f1.4 black no.1703XXX) leica mp

 

[Freakscene]

The optics of the first Summilux lenses (numbers from 16XXXXX) were not designed by Leitz, but by TTH (Taylor, Taylor and Hobson) in England. A few of them, about 500, are in black paint. The mounts of these lenses were made by Leitz themselves, but the glass elements were made by TTH. As a result of this co-operation the lenses were extremely expensive. This was the reason why Leitz came finally with a design of their own. This newer lens is not nearly as good as the TTH lens. It suffers from severe barrel distortion.
The TTH Summilux has true straight lines. The black paint versions of the TTH lens are at full aperture sharper than the chrome ones.

gelatin silver print (summilux 50mm f1.4 black no.1703XXX) leica m3

View attachment 4881410

According to Leica’s records, there are more than 500 in black. The whole run of 1,500 lenses from 1,688,001 to 1,689,500, for example, are recorded by them as being black.

 

[Erik van Straten]

According to Leica’s records, there are more than 500 in black. The whole run of 1,500 lenses from 1,688,001 to 1,689,500, for example, are recorded by them as being black.

I've never heard this. I am talking about the 1703XXX lens (different knurling on the focusing ring). I would say that the older lenses are much rarer. I've only seen a very few of them on pictures and never one in the flesh. Also never one on eBay. But the more, the better!

 

[Erik van Straten]

gelatin silver print (summilux 50mm f1.4 black paint v1) leica mp

Amsterdam, 2021

 

[Freakscene]

I've never heard this. I am talking about the 1703XXX lens (different knurling on the focusing ring). I would say that the older lenses are much rarer. I've only seen a very few of them on pictures and never one in the flesh. Also never one on eBay. But the more, the better!

The scalloped focusing knurl (SKF) was made up until 1960 in the 1,757,000-1,760,000 batch, which also included the last lenses recorded at the factory as being black paint. It’s a very interesting production run.