Leica M5 top covers -- zinc or brass?

I have found a half-dozen web pages that directly contradict each other. Does anyone feel they have an authoritative answer?

 

Thanks very much, Marc

Does anyone feel they have an authoritative answer?

No. But I would be very surprised if the top cover of an M5 was zinc - AFAIK, Leica started using zinc on the M6.

Nearly everything / more than you want to know - skimmed it didn't catch the cover material but brass screws are often mentioned so most likely not zinc, because "Where zinc comes into contact with another metal, the potential for corrosion through a bimetallic couple exists." Link http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-wiki.de/images/a/aa/TheCamera_Craftsman_Leica_M5.pdf

M5 is brass. It is my understanding that the transition to zinc happened somewhere during the production of 4-2 or 4-P - I don’t recall which but one of these models exists with top plates in both materials.

during the production of 4-2 or 4-P - I don’t recall which but one of these models exists with top plates in both materials

M4-P: Leica FAQ — Brass vs. Zinc and Best Leica Film Camera Buyers Guide + Detailed Comparisons (Leica Ms)

Thank you. This had been bugging me for some time.

M4-P: Leica FAQ — Brass vs. Zinc and Best Leica Film Camera Buyers Guide + Detailed Comparisons (Leica Ms)

 

 

Nearly everything / more than you want to know - skimmed it didn't catch the cover material but brass screws are often mentioned so most likely not zinc, because "Where zinc comes into contact with another metal, the potential for corrosion through a bimetallic couple exists." Link http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-wiki.de/images/a/aa/TheCamera_Craftsman_Leica_M5.pdf

 

Yes, but at the same web site, one can also find this comment:.

 

”One important caveat though, only older brass body Ms can be repainted (along with the new M7 or MP, now Leica have gone back to using brass). The zinc bodied Leicas (M4-P after #1600 000, M5 and M6) cannot be done because their zinc alloy top covers would melt(!)."

 

As I said, I have found several more instances like this.

 

Marc

Yes, but at the same web site, one can also find this comment:.

 

”One important caveat though, only older brass body Ms can be repainted (along with the new M7 or MP, now Leica have gone back to using brass). The zinc bodied Leicas (M4-P after #1600 000, M5 and M6) cannot be done because their zinc alloy top covers would melt(!)."

 

As I said, I have found several more instances like this.

 

Marc

As indicated, late M4-P topcovers were zinc (in preparation for the M6). M5 topcovers, however, were always brass. The only confusion might come from those black chrome topcovers, which have a zinc plating layer over the brass under the black chrome plating. But this is the case with every black chrome topcover produced by Leica - including the M4 (late in its production cycle), which for a time was produced concurrently with the M5.

Edited November 6, 2020 by Bill Blackwell Images