Earliest M4

[woolly1]

Hi all,

I own a first year M4 in chrome with the serial number 1176442 and wondered how many other early numbers are still around. I hear say

that 40% of all Landrovers are still being driven around due to their durability (I didn't say reliability) and supply of spare parts (see, I didn't

say reliability). So chances are that there are a fair few lower numbered M4 cameras ..... Maybe owned by us lot. So who's got the

oldest?

They started at 1175000 so there's room at the bottom. ;-)

[woolly1]

Just for the sake of interest mine is graced with a 1959 Summaron 2.8/35

[SCL]

<p>Here's mine - I sold it in January after 44 yrs service.</p><div></div>

[woolly1]

Do you remember what you paid for it?

[SCL]

<p>I don't have my receipt, but it was purchased thru the US Navy exchange and delivered to me aboard my ship in the Mediterranean....I think it was about $265, but I may be off a couple of dollars. At the time I wanted a Pentax Spotmatic, but a fellow officer who had been a Leica salesman before the military lent me his M3 to use for a couple of weeks and I was hooked!</p>

[GlennS]

<p>I bought two M4 bodies in the late sixties, oldest is an ELC Canuck with serial # 11830xx. Both have served me well and will keep getting used for as long as film is available and I can still draw a breath.<br>

The eye piece mask is slightly different on each of my cameras. Later ones had a barrel shape but at which number they changed I have no idea. Will attach a photo showing both eye pieces.<br>

Glenn</p>

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[john_boyle3]

<p>Hi Clive. I bought my M4 in the fall of 1967 in Salt Lake City, Utah. Serial number 1184389. It came with the 50mm 2.8 Elmar and I still have and use both today. The M4 body cost $288. About 25 years ago it started to develop some separation of the prisms in the viewfinder and the viewfinder was replaced. I also recoved the back door with some black vinyl from Camera Leather. I added a button-rewind M2 around 1973.</p>

[woolly1]

@Steven

 

"but a fellow officer who had been a Leica salesman before the military lent me his M3 to use for a couple of weeks and I

was hooked!"

 

What dirty trick! Some friend eh? ;-)

[Gus Lazzari]

<p>Mine isn't as early as yours <em><strong>Clive</strong></em>, but it is less than 5,000 into the run.</p><div></div>

[woolly1]

<p>I guess I ought to show as well as tell.</p>

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[SCL]

<p>Clive - that was my first lens as well, I used it exclusively for 3 years until I could save up enough to buy a 135/4 which I needed for an assignment. Although the newer 35s are a lot sharper throughout the image plane, that 35/2.8 Summaron, was my favorite Leica lens ever!</p>

[david_l3]

<p>My M4 is later, 1971. Got a good deal on it from a little camera shop in New Mexico. Sherry Krauter CLA'd it and it's been great ever since. </p><div></div>

[aplumpton]

<p>Impressive photos. Leitz really new how to chrome plate and the mechanical finish looks even better than my former M3, despite it being a more expensive version of the early Ms. I guess I will have to be content with black anodized finish or enamel. I wonder which numbers referred to Canadian production (relatively small numbers of Barnacks and Ms before the later M4-2 and M4-P).</p>

[aplumpton]

<p>I can answer my own question, at least partially. 937,621 to 937,650 were the earliest (30) bodies from E. Leitz Canada.</p>

<p>Clive, according to Cameraquest.com the earliest M2 from Germany is 926,001. Whether it is still around may be unknown.</p>

<p> </p>

[User_5050610]

<p>Clive--I must say that your early M4 looks absolutely pristine. A beautiful camera.<br>

Thanks for posting!<br>

Paul</p>

[paul_neuthaler]

<p>Never tire of seeing the wonderful, and beautiful, early M's. My 1966 M2 w/35 1:2.8 Summaron is a "never part with" for me.</p>

[stindphoto]

<p>Mine is number 2302 from the first batch - full serial 1177803 - I posted about these early ones back in 2008.<br>

<br /> The link is here: <a href="/leica-rangefinders-forum/00RSGG">http://www.photo.net/leica-rangefinders-forum/00RSGG</a><br>

Nice to see this topic come up again. I later added an M2 in used condition but the M4 is awaiting new curtains - when money permits. I also added the latest Elmarit 90mm - which I love too. One day I hope for chrome Elmarit 24mm ASPH and 50mm Summilux ASPH in chrome to accompany the 90mm and my chrome 35mm Summicron ASPH. Maybe soon if I ever get around to actually selling some of all the other goodies - anyone for a 1000 8.0 Fujinon? </p>

[aplumpton]

<p>Sorry Clive, I looked up the M2 first serial number rather than the M4. You are no doubt right about the first M4 number. </p>

[knut_schwinzer]

<p>Mine is a heavily used 11945xx with slightly crooked curtains I just bought for cheap. Looks almost like Winogrand's beater (chrome brassing!!!), so I did jump in. With an Elmar 50mm...who would call me crazy?! Have now two Elmars to sell, though...</p>

[Bill Blackwell Images]

<p>I only recall owning two M4s in my lifetime. The first was a late silver chrome model from around 1971.</p>

<p>The second was black chrome with a very early serial number. The camera was originally manufactured in silver chrome, but later converted to black chrome in the late 1970s when Don Goldberg ("DAG") worked at the Leitz factory (it was his personal camera at the time). He sold it to me many years later.</p><div></div>

[seth_lord]

<p >M4 Serial # 1183 461 - 2nd owner - CLA by Sherry Krauter in 2010 - works like a charm</p>

[scott_sharp]

<p><img src="file:///Users/scottsharp/Downloads/photo-294.JPG" alt="" />To add to this older thread, I may have one of the earliest M4 bodies. Serial number 1175261 - I assume that is only the 261st or 262nd M4 camera produced into the 1966/67 batch of 3000 cameras? <br>

Bought this last January and due to be sent in for a CLA. However everything functions and the body is still in excellent shape. A testament to Leitz workmanship.</p><div></div>