M6 1984-98 = 14/15 years

M3 1954-68 = 14/15 years (5 made in 1967 and 35 in 68 -German army !)

MDa 1966-76 = 10/11 years

MD2 1977-87 = 10/11 years

M2 1958-67 = 9/10 years

M4 1967-75 = 8/9 years (almost stopped in 1972-73)

M4-P 1980-87 = 6/7 years

M1 1959-64 = 5/6 years

M5 1971-75 = 4/5 years

M6TTL 1998-2001 = 3/4 years

CL 1973-76 = 3/4 years

MD 1963-66 = 3/4 years

M4-2 1978-80 = 2/3 years

MP 1956-57 = 1/2 years

M6J 1994-95 = 1 year

MP2 1959 = 1 year

M6 0,85 1998 = -1 year

-- Lucien (lucien_vd@yahoo.fr), November 07, 2001

Answers

M6 + M6TTL = 17-18 years

-- Lucien (lucien_vd@yahoo.fr), November 07, 2001.

Let's say my math is good enough to follow how you arrive at "M6 + M6TTL = 17-18 years". Is this impressive, meaning that the M6s are way up top, or is this dubious, leading to the question "whatever happened to the M7 ?"

-- Michael Kastner (kastner@zedat.fu-berlin.de), November 07, 2001.

I think the M6 will continue to be made (in one form or another) long after the M7 will come.

-- Lucien (lucien_vd@yahoo.fr), November 07, 2001.

Greetings, FWIW: Several years ago, the Leica rep. in this area stated that Leica has projected production of the M6 for through 2006. BILL

-- Wm. Mitchell (mitchell.candy@worldnet.att.net), November 07, 2001.

Lucien, sounds good. Now that you have granted us a production-year collection stack-up, Bill's data will allow us a specimen-number collection refurbishing.

-- Michael Kastner (kastner@zedat.fu-berlin.de), November 07, 2001.

For those of us old enough: Anyone want a "I survived the Leica M drought of 1977" t-shirt? I'm considering making some to go with my "Walter Mandler lens designs commemorative" t-shirt. ?8^)=

-- Andy Piper (apidens@denver.infi.net), November 07, 2001.

Andy, yes, please. Thanks. Mike

-- Michael Kastner (kastner@zedat.fu-berlin.de), November 07, 2001.