Who has a Leica MP Hammertone?

[Photar]

This follows a similar thread on RFF for the Leica M6 TTL Millennium, which was started by @Ron (Netherlands). Thanks for the idea, Ron.

To celebrate the 35th anniversary of the Leica Historical Society of America (LHSA, now LSI), Leica produced the MP Hammertone in 2003. According to the LHSA sales brochure, the cameras were offered through authorized Leica dealers in early 2004. This special edition was limited to 1,000 sets consisting of a Leica MP camera in gray hammertone paint, a Leicavit M rapidwinder in gray hammertone paint, and a special edition of the 35mm Summicron-M in silver chrome with a sunshade in gray hammertone paint. Sometimes, these items were sold separately. For example, I was able to purchase my MP Hammertone camera body separately in 2006.

According to the Leica Pocket Book by Erwin Puts, Leica reserved three batches of serial numbers for the MP Hammertone:

• 2947201 - 2947800 (600 numbers)
• 2984001 - 2984400 (400 numbers)
• 3001001 - 3001595 (595 numbers).

Obviously, more serial numbers were reserved than needed, assuming that not more than the 1,000 announced cameras were produced. I thought it would be interesting to collect actual serial numbers for the Leica MP Hammertone in this thread. This is mostly just for fun, but for some nerds (like me) it will be interesting to see which of the reserved serial numbers were actually used by Leica. Why am I interested in this particular camera? I think it is the most gorgeous of all Leica special editions (and I know that many will disagree, no problem).

I will start the thread with a list of serial numbers that I already collected. I found one camera (2947831) outside of the three intended serial number batches. Collectors will know that there are exceptions to any list of serial numbers in the Leica world. Moreover, I have not found any camera with a serial number in the second batch.

I hope, moderators will give me permission to update the list occasionally. I add the sources of my observations below. All observations are sourced from publicly available information on the internet. "Auction" includes the usual auction houses and eBay. "Forum" includes RFF and LUF.

Please contribute your Leica MP Hammertone serial numbers to this thread (or by personal message if you prefer). Thanks!

2947212 Auction
2947273 Auction
2947282 Dealer
2947327 Instagram
2947355 Facebook
2947390 Auction
2947446 Dealer
2947460 Dealer
2947463 Auction
2947467 Forum
2947500 Auction
2947522 Dealer
2947533 Dealer
2947556 Auction
2947563 Forum
2947583 Forum
2947682 Forum
2947787 Auction
2947792 Flickr
2947831 Forum
3001025 Dealer
3001200 Auction
3001235 Auction
3001256 Flickr
3001550 Dealer
3001578 Forum

 

[Photar]

And as a reminder of what this is all about, here is mine:

 

[Ron (Netherlands)]

Great to see another 'serialnumber Leica thread' emerge.
Don't have one, but saw also these on Flickr:
2947391
2947405
2947502
3001297

 

[Out to Lunch]

2947533 Dealer

This LHSA Special Edition can be yours, including a hammertone Leicavit, and 2/35 Summicron, for $38,500.00.

2947792 Flickr This one is now for sale on eBay for $9,999.00.

 

[Photar]

This LHSA Special Edition can be yours, including a hammertone Leicavit, and 2/35 Summicron, for $38,500.00.

Ok, let me think about it.......... nah, one is enough 🙂

Some wild pricing differences here. From my observation, there is a considerable premium to be paid for the whole set.

 

[Bill Blackwell]

I had one ...

 

[x-ray]

The year that the LHS offered one as second prize in their drawing I won it. I couldn’t believe it but I actually won the kit. I think I only bought 5 tickets too.

It is a beautiful camera!

I was working on a documentary project and used it for a few months. I had 2 other MP’s but favored the hammer tone. I wound up keeping it for several years then sold it. I wanted to sell the kit as one unit but had a buyer for the lens then for the body and later the Leicavit. I think a forum member in Switzerland bought the body but can’t remember where the other items went. Everything was still like new so they all fetched a premium.

I think I still have the outer box and goodies and will see tomorrow if the SN is on it.

 

[Photar]

The year that the LHS offered one as second prize in their drawing I won it. I couldn’t believe it but I actually won the kit.

Wow, your LHSA membership really paid off! I wonder what the first prize was? Maybe a Hermes MP?

If I may ask, what made you sell the hammertone MP? Did it not get enough use?

 

[x-ray]

Wow, your LHSA membership really paid off! I wonder what the first prize was? Maybe a Hermes MP?

If I may ask, what made you sell the hammertone MP? Did it not get enough use?

The 1st prize was the Leica MP-3 with Leicavit and retro 50mm Summilux.

I had been a member off and on for a couple of decades and always bought my 5 tickets and finally won.

I sold it because I had 6 M bodies at the time. Three were MP’s of which one being an A La Carte in black chrome, black chrome Leicavit, black ostrich skin and wind and levers like the original MP. The RF is the higher magnification .92? also. My signature is engraved on the back of the top. This was a gift from my wife for my 60th birthday 16 years ago.

I also had chrome MP with .92? RF and Leicavit. This one was covered in red leather.

I just had too many Leicas after the documentary was completed. I could never sell my custom MP and have one of my early M2’s that has great sentimental value. I have an almost new M4-P I really like and decided to part with the rest. I still have those three and a kit of vintage lenses which I like better than the new generation.

The documentary was Vanishing Appalachia and initially was on museum display for nearly a year then toured US museums for 7 years.

I’ll check shortly to see if I have the SN of the Hammertone.

 

[x-ray]

Unfortunately the box is for my MP a La carte so no serial number.

 

[Carly Midori]

And as a reminder of what this is all about, here is mine:

View attachment 4873749

This camera is SO cool! The closest I've gotten to this design is the Rimowa hammerschlag - would love the combo of both of these together if I can ever get my hands on one.

 

[nao-tea]

Here is mine:

 

[Archiver]

The year that the LHS offered one as second prize in their drawing I won it. I couldn’t believe it but I actually won the kit. I think I only bought 5 tickets too.

It is a beautiful camera!

I was working on a documentary project and used it for a few months. I had 2 other MP’s but favored the hammer tone. I wound up keeping it for several years then sold it. I wanted to sell the kit as one unit but had a buyer for the lens then for the body and later the Leicavit. I think a forum member in Switzerland bought the body but can’t remember where the other items went. Everything was still like new so they all fetched a premium.

I think I still have the outer box and goodies and will see tomorrow if the SN is on it.

Just think, had you hung on to all the bits and pieces, you could have sold it as a complete set for way more than the sum of the parts!

 

[x-ray]

Just think, had you hung on to all the bits and pieces, you could have sold it as a complete set for way more than the sum of the parts!

You never know if it’ll get more valuable or not and then you’ve got to find a buyer.

 

[Photar]

Here is mine:

Welcome to the forum.

 

[splitimageview]

@Photar post the updates in a reply

 

[Photar]

Updated list

2947212 Auction
2947273 Auction
2947282 Dealer
2947301 Flickr
2947327 Instagram
2947344 Dealer
2947355 Facebook
2947390 Auction
2947405 Flickr
2947446 Dealer
2947460 Dealer
2947463 Auction
2947467 Forum
2947500 Auction
2947502 Flickr
2947508 Auction
2947522 Dealer
2947533 Dealer
2947556 Auction
2947563 Forum
2947583 Forum
2947682 Forum
2947715 Dealer
2947787 Auction
2947792 Flickr
2947831 Forum
3001025 Dealer
3001200 Auction
3001235 Auction
3001256 Flickr
3001297 Flickr
3001550 Dealer
3001577 Dealer
3001578 Forum