Leica serial numbers (1 Viewer)

shorebirder · Dec 3, 2005

Hi
Anyone help me with Leica serial numbers. I have a pair of 8x32BA and am looking at buying a pair of Leitz 8x20 for travelling. Any information (website etc) that i could use would be a great help.
Thanks

Keith Reeder · Dec 3, 2005

Shorebirder, it's not obvious what you're after - are you looking for a way to tell the age of your bins by their serial number?

shorebirder · Dec 3, 2005

Hi Keith
Yes, serial number of my 8x32BA is 1033307 but have seen another pair in a local shop second hand and wondered what year they were made. (do not know the number of them, did not write it down). Is their as site that lists the numbers?
thanks

Keith Reeder · Dec 3, 2005

Hmmm...

I've never come across such a thing, Shorebirder, but I would imagine that the serial number will indicate the date of manufacture somehow (my BA's serial number is 1063861, incidentally!

)

I wouldn't be surprised if someone on here knows how to decipher the number, but in the mean time my curiousity is whetted, so I'm going to have a dig around...

Swissboy · Dec 3, 2005

Keith Reeder said:
Hmmm......
(my BA's serial number is 1063861, incidentally! )...

Mine is 1063471, and I bought them in July 1996.

Shorebirder, you should be aware that the Leitz 8x20 is a relatively old product. (Leitz has changed the name to Leica prior to my purchase of the above mentioned date.) I used to own one of those 8x20 Leitz binoculars. And while nice, I always had some problems with their smallish eyepiece lenses. The newer Leica 8x20 have lenses with considerably larger diameter. It is especially a problem if you wear glasses while using the binoculars. Also, the newer model has a much brighter view which has, once again, been improved in the new Ultravids. But the 8x20 Trinovids with the Leica name on them are also excellent, though not fully waterproof.

shorebirder · Dec 3, 2005

Thanks Swissboy
yes, aware they are old bins I also have a pair of 10x22c in a cupboard somewhere. Had them for years (don't know the serial number, would have to find the bins first). Know what you mean about the small eyepiece lenses but I do not wear glasses YET!!! and found they were pretty good. Will have to find them if I get any info on serial numbers.
Thanks
Matt

bentleyg · Jun 16, 2006

shorebirder said:
Hi Keith
Yes, serial number of my 8x32BA is 1033307 but have seen another pair in a local shop second hand and wondered what year they were made. (do not know the number of them, did not write it down). Is their as site that lists the numbers?
thanks

Where are these numbers? My 8x32BN doesn't seem to have one. Other bins I have have them on the pivot nut but not my Leicas.

PYRTLE · Jun 16, 2006

bentleyg said:
Where are these numbers? My 8x32BN doesn't seem to have one. Other bins I have have them on the pivot nut but not my Leicas.

Under the pullup eyecups on the black sleeve....right hand side in white graphics, this is for the Leica Trinovid BA or BN rubber armoured, on Black leather they should be "punched in" / stamped on the sleeve or the barrel.

Regarding serial number history I would suggest contacting Leica Camera Ltd UK or back to the company in Wetzlar, Germany who are more likely to hold this type of information.

bentleyg · Jun 16, 2006

PYRTLE said:
Under the pullup eyecups on the black sleeve....right hand side in white graphics, this is for the Leica Trinovid BA or BN rubber armoured, on Black leather they should be "punched in" / stamped on the sleeve or the barrel.

Thanks, but nothing there. The left cup has Leica Camera and Made in Germany in white, the right cup is totally blank. I'm starting to worry now

Otto McDiesel · Jun 16, 2006

bentleyg said:
Thanks, but nothing there. The left cup has Leica Camera and Made in Germany in white, the right cup is totally blank. I'm starting to worry now

Maybe you have a fake product, like those Rolex watches and Ferrari cars made in China?

bentleyg · Jun 16, 2006

Luca said:
Maybe you have a fake product, like those Rolex watches and Ferrari cars made in China?

yes, but the quality is there. the performance compares with my aging Zeiss 8x30BTs and the build quality seems ok. If a company was prepared to stick Leica logos on they may as well add a fake serial number as well. I'm more worried that they're some sort of grey or black import of the genuine product. Bought them as used for a typical good used price.

Otto McDiesel · Jun 16, 2006

bentleyg said:
yes, but the quality is there. the performance compares with my aging Zeiss 8x30BTs and the build quality seems ok. If a company was prepared to stick Leica logos on they may as well add a fake serial number as well. I'm more worried that they're some sort of grey or black import of the genuine product. Bought them as used for a typical good used price.

bentleyg, i am sorry for doing that. I was just teasing you and doing what is called "yanking your chain" in Kansas City slang - a prank or joke. Now, fakes from China are real, and i was shocked to read about the extent of the not so underground industry there and about what they falsify.

Otto McDiesel · Jun 17, 2006

Luca said:
bentleyg, i am sorry for doing that. I was just teasing you and doing what is called "yanking your chain" in Kansas City slang - a prank or joke. Now, fakes from China are real, and i was shocked to read about the extent of the not so underground industry there and about what they falsify.

It is possible that your binoculars were refurbished or repaired by Leica, and that they replaced the eyepiece that ususally has the serial number on them.
The Trinovid binoculars are awesome, but their eyecups break if they are extended and the binoculars are dropped.

gr8fuldoug · Jun 17, 2006

Luca said:
It is possible that your binoculars were refurbished or repaired by Leica, and that they replaced the eyepiece that ususally has the serial number on them.
The Trinovid binoculars are awesome, but their eyecups break if they are extended and the binoculars are dropped.

Being a Leica dealer I can assure you that if you contact Leica and give them the serial # they can look up when it was originally sold, to whatever dealer purchased it from them, and if it was ever repaired @ Leica.

bentleyg · Jun 17, 2006

Luca said:
It is possible that your binoculars were refurbished or repaired by Leica, and that they replaced the eyepiece that ususally has the serial number on them.
The Trinovid binoculars are awesome, but their eyecups break if they are extended and the binoculars are dropped.

that's possible I suppose, they don't seem quite as solid as the rest of the construction. Bit confused by the whole thing really. It would be nice to know if there are other BNs around with no serial numbers.

BGuy · Jun 17, 2006

Bentleyg . . . Mine has 'Leica Camera' on the left with the serial number on the right. Problem is, with no serial number there is no way of checking authenticity - I don't want to alarm you, but I suspect you MAY have a grey import, but let's hope not.

Otto McDiesel · Jun 18, 2006

BGuy said:
I suspect you MAY have a grey import, but let's hope not.

A grey import and a fake product are not the same thing. A grey product may just be something that does not have a fancy warranty and is not imported by the authorized distributor, but it comes from the same factory from the same assemby line as the other ones.

A fake one will be a binocular looking like a Trinovid, but having wine bottle bottoms instead of lenses. Unlikely, because it is expensive to manufacture. If i were faking stuff, i would fake things that cost little and bring big profit (fashion junk like Victoria's Secret, Viagra, watches).

Bentleyg, just call the Leica folks and ask them what you need to know.

bentleyg · Jun 18, 2006

Luca said:
A grey import and a fake product are not the same thing. A grey product may just be something that does not have a fancy warranty and is not imported by the authorized distributor, but it comes from the same factory from the same assemby line as the other ones.

A fake one will be a binocular looking like a Trinovid, but having wine bottle bottoms instead of lenses. Unlikely, because it is expensive to manufacture. If i were faking stuff, i would fake things that cost little and bring big profit (fashion junk like Victoria's Secret, Viagra, watches).

Bentleyg, just call the Leica folks and ask them what you need to know.

Yes, that's my view I think. They're too good to be fakes, but there's something 'funny' with them. Not sure I want to know the details. Ignorance is bliss!

Rgds
Grahame

bentleyg · Jun 18, 2006

gr8fuldoug said:
Being a Leica dealer I can assure you that if you contact Leica and give them the serial # they can look up when it was originally sold, to whatever dealer purchased it from them, and if it was ever repaired @ Leica.

Hi, the whole point is there isn't a serial number on them to quote. I bought a newish looking used pair but can't find a number on them.

Narnhead · Nov 27, 2022

Hi,

Looking to find out the age of my 8x20 trinovid leicas

Serial number is 1419582

Any help appreciated!

Thanks,
James

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