Early Nikon I, s/n 60933, in iGavel.com auction

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everardauctions

Early Nikon I, s/n 60933, in iGavel.com auction

Lead

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Posts: 2

(11/12/2007 12:34 PM)

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I just wanted to let the Nikon Historical Society members know that we have an early Nikon I, s/n 60933, coming up in our auction on www.iGavel.com. There are also a number of other pieces of Nikon equipment in the auction. The auction closes on November 27th, 2007. Please take a look at it:

http://auction.igavel.com/ClientInfo.taf?_function=info&id=2221&skip=1

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Amanda Everard
Everard & Company
2436 Waters Ave.
Savannah, GA 31404
U.S.A
(912) 231-1376

joseph xayraa

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Posts: 11

(11/13/2007 04:17 PM)

Wow. I cannot belive how crude looking the interior is compared to the later models.
Crude looking but nice.

Nikon HS Webmaster

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Posts: 2120

(11/13/2007 05:07 PM)

60933

Yes this was almost a prototype. Nikon had never made cameras, and there were only a few made as actual prototypes, a few unnumbered and 1~21. 60922 is reported as the first camera considered a production model. These cameras almost always work perfectly, which is a testament to the simple design.

onlynikon

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Posts: 217

(11/15/2007 08:47 AM)

Amanda
does it has the matching back ?

Wes Loder

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Posts: 317

(11/15/2007 09:21 AM)

NK did not initially match backs to bodies. But note the number '14' that appears on many of the parts. I am curious as to why this camera has the red-dot shutter release button. I thought that was a feature added much later. Perhaps the button was replaced. Paint jobs were a bit crude on those first cameras.
Based on the serial number, this should have be one of the cameras shipped to Hong Kong in October 1948. Many of those first cameras failed and were returned to the factory (and later junked to avoid inventory taxes). They had a lot of problems with the focusing mounts and scratched film. WES

Nikon HS Webmaster

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Posts: 2120

(11/16/2007 07:24 AM)

So Wes the 14 is to match the back? The numbers do not seem to be quite in serial number order. As Stephen Gandy pointed out 60926 and 60952 do not have matching numbers. (# 26 is marked # 2 inside, # 52 is marked # 23 inside.) Do you know any more about these numbers and the order the cameras were assembled in?

We will still buy your book (in fact in theory I have paid).

;-)

NIKON KIU

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Posts: 2141

(11/17/2007 04:06 PM)

It works!!

Biting my foot---> there are two bids!

Kiu

Kiu

Nikon HS Webmaster

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Posts: 2120

(11/17/2007 11:29 PM)

You expected no bids on one of the earliest production nikons, with an almost mythical lens? What were you thinking?

I am actually shocked to see high end Nikon RF prices going up again. They are going near 1990 prices, while most of the user stuff just keeps falling. Interesting market.

I think when Bob's book comes out there will be a spike in high end prices.

NIKON KIU

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Posts: 2141

(11/20/2007 12:07 AM)

Nikon HS Webmaster wrote:
..... with an almost mythical lens? What were you thinking?

Almost mythical is right, there are about 1000 lenses in early Canon/later screw mount in the 705xxxx series.

Kiu

Last Edited By: NIKON KIU 11/20/2007 12:35 AM. Edited 1 times.

Nikonmike

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Posts: 147

(11/20/2007 08:30 PM)

Hi Wes and Fred;

I've just checked the casting numbers on the interior my Nikon 1 #60969....and it shows #9..in the exact same places as are shown on #60933....engraved in the film chamber and on the back.

The Nikon 1 #60933 has casting numbers of 14. I find it a bit strange that the casting numbers of 14 are engraved on a body 36 units earlier than mine. Any suggestions?

Cheers,

Mike

Nikon HS Webmaster

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Posts: 2120

(11/20/2007 10:15 PM)

Almost mythical is right, there are about 1000 lenses in early Canon/later screw mount in the 705xxxx series.

Kiu

That is almost trolling Kiu...

the 50 3.5 lenses were NEVER available in Canon J mount, only in Leica screw mount. There was an early 3.5 in Nikon Hansa mount.

But this is not a J mount or a Hansa mount, or LTM ...

NIKON KIU

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Posts: 2141

(11/20/2007 11:35 PM)

Nikon HS Webmaster wrote:

That is almost trolling Kiu...

the 50 3.5 lenses were NEVER available in Canon J mount, only in Leica screw mount. There was an early 3.5 in Nikon Hansa mount.

But this is not a J mount or a Hansa mount, or LTM ...

There you go again....Almost!!
I was polite though. I learned something too

Kiu

Wes Loder

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Posts: 317

(11/21/2007 07:31 PM)

The 50mm f3.5 Nikkor-Q is rare in Leica thread, but not impossible to find. However, until the 50mm f1.4 became available in 1950, all normal lenses for the Nikon camera (Nikon mount) were only sold on a camera. According to SCAP records, only 129 Nikons left the factory with the 50mm f3.5 lens. All the rest, prior to the introduction of the 50mm f1.5, came with a version of the 50mm f2. Yes, that is an extremely rare lens. A couple were sold on early Nikon Ms, the rest all went out on Nikon Is. As I noted above, this camera would probably have been part of the first shipment of Nikons. These went to Hong Kong. Half of these shipped with the 50mm f3.5, the other half with the 50mm f2.
As to Mike's question: I do not have the answer, except that top plates were engraved as a separate process from the camera internals. In dating a camera, the internal numbers may mean more than the body "serial number." Not sure how high the internal numbers go. The internal numbers must have meant something to someone working at the benches where the cameras were assembled. WES

Nikon HS Webmaster

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Posts: 2120

(11/22/2007 12:50 AM)

I have had only one Nicca with a 3.5, and it was the rigid version. I have never seen the other one.

I note that Stephen Gandy quotes RH on the rigid model. "Randol Hooper estimates production at only 500 lenses"

Nikonmike

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Posts: 147

(11/22/2007 11:37 AM)

Hi Wes,

Thanks for the response to my casting number question. As all these early Nikons were "bench assembled" and the casting numbers formed an important part of the assembly...........perhaps components were interchanged as part of the process. In other words when they were making my #60969...the interior parts (and the back) with casting #9 might have been deemed a better fit than others. Just a theory.

In reviewing my lenses last night I found what appears to be an interersting early Nikkor lens ....a 5cm/f3.5 Nikkor QC, #571057. By this very early serial number, I somehow doubt if it was "date recorded" unless it was produced in (57) = July, 1945. I somehow doubt this somehow as the serial numbers for July, 1945 (following their future pattern) should have been 507, not 57. This lens is in Leica thread mount. Too bad it isn't in Nikon RF mount! The focusing scale is in feet with f-stops down to f16. Like the collapsible 5cm/f3.5 lens on Nikon 1 #60933, the barrel sleeve on my lens is also quite badly scored. On the rear mounting flange there's a casting number 44 stamped into the metal.

Cheers,

Mike

NIKON KIU

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Posts: 2141

(11/28/2007 12:28 PM)

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Early Nikon I, s/n 60933, in iGavel.com auction

Early Nikon I, s/n 60933, in iGavel.com auction

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