Cost of LNIB M2/M3 Body Shell?

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I have been offered an M2 body shell, new old stock, in an old E. Leitz box. Does anyone have any idea what the approximate value of this should be? I'm interested as a possible cosmetic upgrade/restoration of an M3...I'm told it will fit; does anyone know if this is not correct?

-- John Newell (jnewell@mediaone.net), October 23, 2001

Answers

The M2 shells came with three differences that I know of. Does the shell have provisions for a self timer? Most M3s came with self timers while there are a fair number of M2s without one. The M2 did not have a guard around the lens release button. Finally there were two different strap lugs and the early triangular ones are bigger with different hole spacings The shell can be modified to M3 specs but you want to very careful as the vulcanite may be brittle.

My M2 vulcanite fell to pieces over time and I sent it off to Kindermann Canada for recovering. M6 style PVC covering was $150CAN installed (including shiping). While the replacing the whole shell clocked in at $500CAN for the part alone. I never bothered asking about how much the labour would be.

If it is a camera you use, get the M6 style material as you will lose no sleep over it if it gets bumped. If it going on a self to be admired....

Cheers,

-- John Collier (jbcollier@powersurfr.com), October 23, 2001.


That should be "a shelf" !!! Though "a self" is strangely appropriate too.

Cheers,

-- John Collier (jbcollier@powersurfr.com), October 23, 2001.


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