Linhof Serial Numbers

[Bob Salomon]

Bob--How about this one:

68186

It must be a Tech. IV (I think) since it uses current Technika lensboards but doesn't have the ratchet rise mechanism.

I have the opportunity to buy it, cheap, and was thinking it could make a good backup for travel.

About a 1958 Super Technika IV.

[Noah A]

Thanks Bob. I should have added; on the film back as other Technikas I've seen it says D.B.P. West-Germany. But it also says A.P.a. What does that last bit mean?

[Bob Salomon]

Thanks Bob. I should have added; on the film back as other Technikas I've seen it says D.B.P. West-Germany. But it also says A.P.a. What does that last bit mean?

D.B.P. is the German Patent office. I think A.P.A. is also Patent related but you should ask a German to be sure.

[scm]

I've another one here, a Tech IV, I believe. Serial 74645, if you could look that up when you have a moment, Bob.

[Bob Salomon]

I've another one here, a Tech IV, I believe. Serial 74645, if you could look that up when you have a moment, Bob.

About 61 or 62

[scm]

About 61 or 62

Thanks so much, Bob!

[emax]

What a patience, great service!

Can you as well tell about mine which I bought this week? It's an MT, the serial# is 6491323.

[Bob Salomon]

What a patience, great service!

Can you as well tell about mine which I bought this week? It's an MT, the serial# is 6491323.

Feb 1981

[emax]

Feb 1981

Thank you very much!

A question remains which you can probably anser. I've seen a number of serials here, and the corresponding years are sometimes hard to understand:

• 6491229: 1989
• 6491323: 1981 <- mine
• 6491423: 1989

For a German company (and in particular for me as a German ), it is hard to understand why they don't have an ascending year in corresponence to an ascending serial number. Can you tell why this is so?

[Bob Salomon]

Thank you very much!

A question remains which you can probably anser. I've seen a number of serials here, and the corresponding years are sometimes hard to understand:

• 6491229: 1989
• 6491323: 1981 <- mine
• 6491423: 1989

My list shows all of them as 1989.

These numbers contain information for the factory as to production run, date, etc. They are not just a consecutive number.
For a German company (and in particular for me as a German ), it is hard to understand why they don't have an ascending year in corresponence to an ascending serial number. Can you tell why this is so?