Leica Model A
date: label: date made
content: 1924
name: label: maker
content: Ernst Leitz
label: maker
content: Leica
notes: label: Description
content: Leica, Model A, introduced in 1924. Lens: Leitz Elmar 1:3.5 F-50mm, Serial no. 988 (1925-1926).
label: Description
content: The first batch of cameras are known as the O (letter O) series or null Leicas. These cameras were given to Leitz employees and family members for testing purposes. It is believed that Leitz set aside numbers 101 to 130 for the O series, but not all the numbers appear to have been used. Sales to the public officially started in 1925 with Leica number 131, but may have started with 126.
label: Description
content: Some sources state that the first production run ended at serial number 1,000, others say it ended at number 1,300 or later. In either case this camera is a late model from the run with a 50mm f/3.5 Elmar lens.
label: Description
content: The original Leica Anastigmat lens was given the trademark name Elmax about serial number 300, but the five element design remained largely unchanged. The lens was expensive to produce and was eventually replaced with a less expensive four element design. The new lens was known as the Elmar and this lens, upon which the reputation of Leitz was built, remained in production for over 40 years.
label: Description
content: Many sources say that the Elmar lens was introduced around serial number 1,300 with the second production batch in 1926, but this example with serial number 988 has an Elmar, not an Elmax lens. However, it is believed that small batches of Elmar lenses were fitted to first production cameras with serial numbers under 1,000. The example in the Photographic History Collection (PHC) would seem to prove this.
label: Description
content: In addition to the Elmar lens, the PHC example number 988 has other features distinguishing it from model number 149, most notably the design of the shutter release button and the shape of the accessory shoe.
label: Location
content: Currently not on view
place: label: place made
content: Germany: Hesse, Wetzlar
setName: label: See more items in
content: Work and Industry: Photographic History
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content: Leica Cameras
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content: Photography
creditLine: label: Credit Line
content: E. Leitz, Inc.
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of American History
identifier: label: ID Number
content: PG.007031
label: accession number
content: 246412
label: catalog number
content: 7031
label: serial number
content: 988
objectType: label: Object Name
content: camera, 35mm
physicalDescription: label: Measurements
content: overall: 5 1/4 in x 2 1/2 in x 1 1/2 in; 13.335 cm x 6.35 cm x 3.81 cm