So far as is known, all .85 "Classic M6" left the factory with a black chrome finish. However, Leica has a long tradition of making exceptions to practically any rule. If a documentable factory chrome finish .85 M6 Classic exists, it would be a rare camera indeed. If you do find a .85 chrome body, or even .85 Titanium body, they are almost certainly post factory conversions. The .85 finder was later used in the .85 M6 TTL, and various M6 TTL Black Paint special versions as well.
Frank Filippone had the good sense to start collecting serial #'s and variations of the M6 .85 "Classic," -- the non TTL version of the .85. This is probably the first time Leica production numbers have been tracked from a model's startup by collectors and users. Without the internet it would be impossible.
Amazingly Frank has tracked THREE Engraving VARIATIONS:
"LEICA CAMERA MADE IN GERMANY" -- the standard engraving, by far the most numerous
"LEICA CAMERA GMBH Made in Germany" only 3 reported so far in 2 production runs
"LEICA CAMERA" only 1 reported so far
.85 production was only 3,130 cameras before production shifted to the M6TTL .85. This means the first model .85 will be a future collectable due to the low production.
If you have a .85 which is not yet on this list, please email the serial # along with the engraving variations to Frank, just click here.
S/N To Date 12/29/00 by Frank Filippone:
This is a list of all reported M6HM (0.85) Serial numbers by LUG members, Ebay Sales, and references from CameraQuest WEB Pages...... Total is 140 cameras out of the entire production of 3130, as documented by Leica. The list is hardly complete but should be used as a guide. The notation of US or Hong Kong etc. is the country where the camera was purchased.
I have an email from Leica AG, Mr. Stefan Danial-Leica Camera AG Produkt Management, M-System. That email states there was a total production of M6HM of 3,130 units. I have confirmed that report with him directly.
Pre-Production Cameras
1,915,038 Germany, Standard Engraving
1,917,990 Europe
2,296,539 Hong Kong
Regular Production Cameras
2,414,454 US Standard Engraving
2,414,629 Canada Standard Engraving
2,414,683 Europe Standard Engraving
2,414,835 Canada Standard Engraving
2,414,841 US Standard Engraving
2,414,849 Asia Standard Engraving
2,415,034 US Standard Engraving
2,415,092 US Standard Engraving
2,415,207 US Standard Engraving
2,415,252 US
2.415,277 US Standard Engraving
2,415,322 US
2,415,337 Europe Standard Engraving
2,415,388 Europe Standard Engraving
2,415,391 Europe Standard Engraving
2,415,467 HK Standard Engraving
2,415,483 Europe Standard Engraving
2,415,570 US Standard Engraving
2,415,615 US Standard Engraving
2,415,617 US Standard Engraving
2,415,628 US Standard Engraving
2,415,688 US Standard Engraving
2,415,729 US Standard Engraving
2,415,852 US Standard Engraving
2,415,868 US Standard Engraving
2,415,922 US Standard Engraving
2,415,946 Europe
2,415,974 US Standard Engraving
2,415,988 Asia Standard Engraving
There is no evidence of cameras with S/N between 2,416,000 and 2,422,999.
2,423,016 US Standard Engraving
2,423,040 US
2,423,068 Europe engraved LEICA CAMERA only2,423,084 US Engraving on back says: "LEICA CAMERA GMBH"
underneath this, "Made in GERMANY" note lower case lettering
2,432,091 Asia Standard Engraving
2,423,097 US Engraving same as # 2,423,084
2,423,195 Europe Standard Engraving
2,423,207 US Standard Engraving
2.423.237 Europe Standard Engraving
2,423,247 US Standard Engraving
2,423,248 Europe
2,423,249 Europe, Standard Engraving.
2,423,255 Canada Standard Engraving
2,423,271 Europe Standard Engraving
2,423,307 US Standard Engraving
2,423,308 US Standard Engraving
2,423,327 US Standard Engraving
2,423,373 US Standard Engraving
2,423,398 Canada Standard Engraving
2,423,399 US Standard Engraving
2,423,408 US Standard Engraving
2,423.423 US
2,423,425 US Standard Engraving
2,423,476 Hong Kong Engraving on back says: "LEICA CAMERA GMBH"
underneath this, "Made in GERMANY" Same as # 2,423,084
2,432,509 US Standard Engraving
2,423,519 Hong Kong Engraving on back says: "LEICA CAMERA GMBH"
underneath this, "Made in GERMANY" Same as # 2,423,084
2,423,533 Europe Standard Engraving
2,423,574 Europe Standard Engraving
2,423,582 US Standard Engraving
2,423,592 Europe Standard Engraving
2,423,661 US Standard Engraving
2,423,664 US Standard Engraving
2,432,691 US Standard Engraving
2,423,733 US Standard Engraving
2,423,775 US Standard Engraving
2,423,975 US Standard Engraving
2,424,024 US Standard Engraving
2,424,092 Europe Standard Engraving
2,424,148 US Standard Engraving
2,424,176 US Standard Engraving
2,424,275 US Standard Engraving
2,424,331 US Standard Engraving
2,424,471 US Standard Engraving
2,424,475
2,424,512 US Standard Engraving
2,424,376 US Standard Engraving
2,424,500 Europe Standard Engraving
2,424,647 US Standard Engraving
2,424,633 US Standard Engraving
2,424,702 US Standard Engraving
2,424,785 Europe
2,424,927 US Standard Engraving
2,425,000 US Standard Engraving
There is no evidence of cameras with S/N between 2,425,000 and 2,431,000
2,431,315 US Standard Engraving
2,431,765 US Standard Engraving
2,431,816 US Standard Engraving
2,431,829 US Standard Engraving
2,431,875 HK Standard Engraving
2,432,008 US (?) Standard Engraving
2,432,500 US Standard Engraving
2,432,654 US Standard Engraving
2,432,692 US Standard Engraving
2,432,733 US Standard Engraving
2,432,899 US Standard Engraving
2,432,907 Europe Standard Engraving
2,432,983 Europe .... Reported Stolen in the Netherlands
2,433,062 Europe Standard Engraving
2,433,067 US Standard Engraving
2,433,108 US
2,433,145 US Standard Engraving
2,433,148 US Standard Engraving
2,433,155 US Standard Engraving
2,433,221 HK Standard Engraving
2,433,222 US Standard Engraving
2,433,231 US
2,433,243 US Standard Engraving
2,433,253 US Standard Engraving
2,433,302 US Standard Engraving
2,433,303 US
2,433,410 US Standard Engraving
2,433,437 US Standard Engraving
2,433,470 Europe .... Reported Stolen in the Netherlands
2,433,480 Europe .... Reported Stolen in the Netherlands
2,433,535 Europe Standard Engraving
2,433,586 Europe .... Reported Stolen in the Netherlands
2,433,620 Europe .... Reported Stolen in the Netherlands
2,433,633 Europe .... Reported Stolen in the Netherlands
2,433,650 UK Standard Engraving
2,433,654 US Standard Engraving
2,433,675 Europe .... Reported Stolen in the Netherlands
2,433,795 Europe .... Reported Stolen in the Netherlands
2,433,798 Europe .... Reported Stolen in the Netherlands
There is no evidence of cameras with S/N between 2,434,000 and 2,456,000
2,456,023 Europe .... Reported Stolen in the Netherlands
2,456,225 Europe .... Reported Stolen in the Netherlands
There is no evidence of cameras with S/N between 2,456,300 and 2,463,000
These were sold in late 1998.
2.463,906 US
2,463,909 Europe Standard Engraving
2,463,935 US Standard Engraving
2,463,940 US Standard Engraving
2,463,944 US Standard Engraving
2,463,962 US Standard Engraving
2,464,003 US Standard Engraving
2,464,011 US Standard Engraving
2,464,026 US Standard Engraving
2,464,030 US Standard Engraving
2,464,039 Europe Standard Engraving
2,464,077 US Standard Engraving
2,464,090 US Standard Engraving
If you see your camera listed with an incorrect S/N .... like I bungled a few digits..... please email me Note: Capitalization is as printed on the camera
Frank's Conclusions:
I did not expect to find such random serial numbers. Pre-production units went to Canada, Asia. Serial Numbers were random. These are most likely modified M6 bodies. These very early cameras may have been sales samples to major dealers.
M6 .85 bodies with serial numbers before the 2,414xxx block are apparently pre-production, and very rare with only 3 reported so far
Only one .85 engraved "LEICA CAMERA" (without "Made in Germany") reported so far
Only three .85's engraved "LEICA CAMERA GMBH Made in GERMANY" (lower case lettering "Made in") are reported so far, in two production runs. It would seem Leica was using up older top plates. (These may have initially been reserved for a special model M6, but never used. SG)
The standard M6 .85 engraving is "LEICA CAMERA MADE IN GERMANY"
I will continue to keep this list and modify the assumptions made about the
total production run.
Thank You.
May the Light be with you.
Long Live Leica M Cameras!
Frank Filippone
[email protected]
Keep in mind that M6 serial numbers are engraved on the hot shoe, not the top plate like the M4 and earlier cameras. This makes it very easy to change a serial number on a body, if there is a need for whatever reason. Without access to factory records, it remains to be seen if the cameras prior to the 2,414xxx serial block were indeed made first, or if Leica was simply using up a few old serial numbers that had not been issued before. Alas, another possibility is an attempt to conceal the original number -- the change occurring after it left the factory. Time and research will eventually answer these questions. SG
As this list grows, we will also be able to determine approximate production of each variation. Thanks Frank!
Revised: November 25, 2003 . Copyright � 1998-2002 Stephen Gandy. All rights reserved. This means you may NOT copy and re-use the text or the pictures in ANY other internet or printed publication of ANY kind. Information in this document is subject to change without notice. Other products and companies referred to herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies or mark holders.