|
| I know whenever we relate Leica with
user groups or association, Leica Historical Society of America ("LHSA") will immediately come into your mind.
Basically, this has a lot to do with frequent activities LHSA held, in particularly
with their own releases of very uniquely configured special editions of LEICA bodies/lenses.
Further, LHSA has a 2,200-strong membership worldwide which acts as their backbone.
LHSA had their first taste with a special issued of LEICA M6 in 1988 to commemorate
their 20th Anniversary with a small quantity of black/chrome M6 LHSA 1968~1988 Edition. Towards the beginning of the '90 and all
the way to discontinuation of the LEICA M6 Classic models in 1998, we have seen many
variants and Special Releases of LEICA M6 for different purposes and/or events. But
strictly speaking, special issuance of LEICA via photographic associations were rarer
in numbers as compared to localized requests. |
| |
 |
LEICA M6 HISTORICA e.V DEUTSCHLAND Edition, 1995
In 1994 and 1995 we have witnessed
two consecutive special releases of LEICA M6 by another two major, influential photographic
Associations in the photographic community, Royal Photographic Society "RPS" of Great Britain and followed
by an edition issued by LEICA HISTORICA e.V, Deutschland (LHS Germany). The latter with their 1995's M6 release
in a stunning color and presentation, is the subject of this site.
Site Progress Update 01.11.2008,
2nd. Draft w/ updated info
by LEICA HISTORICA e.V.
|
| |
| LEICA HISTORICA e.V, Germany actually
was founded back in 1975 at Wetzlar - once the homeland of Leica before moving its
core operations to current premises at SOLMS; but their main centre of activities
such as the biyearly regular meetings are held in Staufenberg. From the original
23 members when it was first founded, LEICA HISTORICA e.V currently has around 400+
active membership from throughout the globe. One of the publication, VIDOM is published
b-annually. Annual new subscriptions of membership is growing primarily because it
has opened up communications in multi-lingual via website, VIDOM and even some of
their excellent internal publication LEICA HISTORICA magazine which started to incorporate
English as supplementary medium. |
| |
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
Back in 1997, while I was in a local
Japanese book store KINOKUNIYA @ KLCC / Twin Towers. I saw a Leica handbook with a very unusual
LEICA M6 in blue leatherette and had bought it for reading reference as well as trying
to find out its details. |
Not knowing the cover featured camera has only a few short paragraph in its description
written in Japanese and all the while I was still puzzled with its origin. That was
my first encounter with this M6 Historica e.V Edition. This is exactly what I intend
to convey - the M6 Historica e.V model has a very attractive exterior appearance
and among the early LEICA M6 Special Editions released during the first quarter of
'90, it was only comparable by the LEICA M6 Colombo '92 which has a similar striking finishes. |
| |
|
|
 |
However, in terms of issued theme for
this special M6 release, I would find the M6 Historica e.V carried a more meaningful
purpose. In 1995, it was the 20th Anniversary in Establishment of the German Historical
Society, one of the program to commemorate the event was a special edition of 150
units of LEICA M6 in a very distinctive fashion. The companion lens used was a LEICA
SUMMICRON-M 1:2/50mm in silver chrome finish.
<<<--- There
were some references that quoted the M6 Historical Edition was released with three
lenses, SUMMICRON-M 1:2/35mm ASPH; SUMMICRON-M 1:2/50mm as well as APO-SUMMICRON-M
1:2/90mm ASPH each with special HISTORICA
engraving. I seriously doubting existence of the 1995's original M6 HISTORICA edition camera which had such combination of optic
as companion. The picture
shown in LHS German site has two of these optic as you can see the engraving ends
with year 2000+ (not clear but still be able to read the outlines). My basis for
my remarks: Summicron-M 35mm f/2.0 ASPH was first introduced in 1997; while the
APO Summicron 90mm f/2.0 ASPH was first released in 1998. In 2005, the German Leica
Historical Society was celebrating their 30th Anniversary, I am not sure if these
marked lenses had anything to do with that special occasion.
I have written to LHS Germany
to seek clarification on this specific topic and awaiting for more information and/reply.
|
| |
LEICA HISTORICA e.V Germany had taken the liberty
to provide a confirmation as followed:-
" .... Hello. Thank you very much for your email. We had Leica Company made:-
| 150 units |
1995 |
Special silver chrome Leica M6 model with turquoise
leather in 1995, engraving "20 Jahre Leica Historica" on camera and lens.
The lens was a Summicron-M 2/50 in silver chrome, with built-in sunshade. |
| 75 units |
2000 |
Special silver chrome TRI-Elmar-M 4/28-35-50 ASPH.
in 2000, engraving "25 Jahre Leica Historica" on the lens. |
| 40 units |
2005 |
Special silver chrome LEICAVIT-M in 2005, engraving
"30 Jahre Leica-Historica" on the front. |
We have actually set our website bi-lingual (german and english) on all sub-pages.
We thank you very much for your offer to set a link on your Leica site. Please kindly
do send us the link to your site as soon as it will be online. We will have a look
at it and then decide, if we will take advantage of your offer and permit a link
to our site...".
kind regards
L. Netopil, vice president
Leica Historica e.V. Web:- www.leica-historica.de
The supplied information serves as an official guidence for all Leica collectors
worldwide to refer to all the related special editions issued by LEICA HISTORICA
e.V. Germany on THREE of their special occasions. i.e 20, 25 and 30 Jahre. Well,
I may also have to update/correct some info appeared in this site.
|
| |
 |
Supplied with a lovely wood veneer
presentation box, the cobalt blue (or turquoise) leatherette of the LEICA
M6 HISTORICA e.V. Edition also has Special engraving at the top plate, each unit
came w/S/N xxx-150 engraved at the top, center location. The 50mm 1:2 Summicron-M
only has a silver chrome version and each lens has an additional matching serial
number other than the Leica's own production S/N on both the camera as well as the
50/2. i.e. 37xxxxx-xxx-150. Other components with this edition include instruction
booklet, warranty card, commemorative brochure and accessories, in maker's box
|
| |
|
The Serial Number of the M6 HISTORICA Set was quite special,
in order to match the serial number for each unit issued, the production Summicron-M
has to jump in random sequence to match the code. I provided three known units that
show: 1) Unit No. 049/150 body S/N 2175589 Lens: 3729049-049/150; 2) Unit No.118-150 Body LS/N: 2174922, Lens: 3729118-118/150;
3) Unit No. 136-150 LS/N 2175181, Lens: 3729136-136/150. The lens section were easier to understand (all started with
3729xxx) but when it come to the body serial number for each unit, then it is pretty
difficult to get the right starting production number for this entire batch of 150
units.
 |
The silver chrome Summicron-M 1:2/50mm lens as stated
above, came with matched serial codes. At the bottom section, it has additional special
engraving of Leica (logo) with "HISTORICA 1975~1995".
Credit: Image courtesy of J-camera Korea®. Image Copyright © 2008. All rights reserved. Please respect
the visual property of the contributing photographer.
|
|
| |
|
|
| previous
| NEXT | 1/2 Other
issues that relate to this German special M6 edition
|
|
|
Main Index Page
- Leica M6-series models / Main Index Page - Leica-M Rangefinder
camera Models
Nomenclature / Main Reference Map for Leica M6 Standard Model(s) applicable to this M6 Edition
Instruction Manuals:- Leica M6 Classic in PDF (3.8mb) applicable to this M6 Travelers Edition by Niels
H. S. Nielsen
| Message Board | lenses | Message Board | RF cameras
about this site
|
