Marking your camera

[eli griggs]

A Nice option, which puts me in mind of enhancements done to rifles, clubs, tomahawks by American Indians and what would the result be, should such an approach be taken by Leica, FED, etc owners?

Perhaps there should be a competition?

 

[eli griggs]

I've...

I do use a label-maker to put my name and phone number on lens hoods. I have misplaced/lost a number of quite expensive ones before doing that. The label ensures I won't lose another--like the umbrella preventing rain.

...a lable maker or two, but the electrics are for papers and plastics.

I also have a heavy duty Dymo manual label maker that besides typical plastic lable tapes, can use stainless steel, aluminum, taped, without adhesive and I'm sure, would work with thin strips of brass, copper and tin, etc.

It would have to be a beater but I'd probably rather epoxy a metal lable, in small type, than engrave an old, valuable camera, like a Leica or Hasselblad, though at 67, I feel they would be among my last cameras, because they would have to be users.

Cheers

 

[Paul Howell]

When in the Air Force in the 70s my 1st Sargent twisted my arm to engrave my Konica T with my last name and last 4 of my SS number. In those days service numbers were the same as a member's social security number. A year later I traded the T in for used Nikon F. The clerk at the shop took off either 10 or 20 dollars because it was engraved. $20 would be around $160 in 2024

 

[ic-racer]

Engraving? Means time for a new top!

 

[250swb]

My cat marks things up so other cats know they belong to him, is this engraving thing something similar? I guess if you forget your name you can look on the tag sewn into your vest, if you think putting your M2 down on the bar you'll mix it up with all the others on there that is one heck of a bar, where is it?

 

[eli griggs]

One additional marking, besides my Drivers License number, is a simple line of dots, but on my hardware and tools that do not house delicate optics, mechanics, or electronics, etc., where it's too much of an expenditure of labor when large amounts of small or dumb tools need IDs on the.

A line or group of dots, with a particular grouping, made by a automatic spring activated indentation tool, a punch, like a Starrett Model 18a, can be clean, and you decide a design, with spaces and dots, that you can use for life, as a personal ID.

 

[250swb]

One additional marking, besides my Drivers License number, is a simple line of dots, but on my hardware and tools that do not house delicate optics, mechanics, or electronics, etc., where it's too much of an expenditure of labor when large amounts of small or dumb tools need IDs on the.

A line or group of dots, with a particular grouping, made by a automatic spring activated indentation tool, a punch, like a Starrett Model 18a, can be clean, and you decide a design, with spaces and dots, that you can use for life, as a personal ID.

But what happens if something is stolen and the thief adds another dot?

The whole point of marking a camera or lens with a name or number is to make it as unappealing as possible to other people. It's both a matter of taste, because if done neatly it will only appeal to somebody with the same name, or of uglification in which it won't have any resonance with anybody at all and any legitimate new owner will have to explain away somebody else's number plate etc. forever and eternity. And why nobody recommends doing these markings somewhere 'secret' on the camera like inside a battery compartment is baffling. This 'uglification' even extended to certain examples from Leica's 'a la Carte' programme where only the original owner could have any resonance with the camera. So why not just photograph your camera's serial number and all it's individual chips or dents to identify it as yours in a dispute?

 

[r_a_feldman]

If your camera has a removable pressure plate, you can remove it, write your ID info in pencil or marker on the hidden side, and replace the pressure plate. That will provide some non-obvious identification if the camera is stolen and recovered.

 

[Pieter12]

The whole point of marking a camera or lens with a name or number is to make it as unappealing as possible to other people.

A thief will have a harder time unloading a camera that has obvious identification markings on it. And the pawn shop value is probably diminished, too. Of course, the thief will only realize that after they have taken the item, so its gone anyway. Not a deterrent.

 

[beemermark]

The only reason I can think of to add an additional marking to a camera is if it has no serial number. I have my cameras, and I have my recorded serial numbers.

 

[eli griggs]

But what happens if something is stolen and the thief adds another dot?

The whole point of marking a camera or lens with a name or number is to make it as unappealing as possible to other people. It's both a matter of taste, because if done neatly it will only appeal to somebody with the same name, or of uglification in which it won't have any resonance with anybody at all and any legitimate new owner will have to explain away somebody else's number plate etc. forever and eternity. And why nobody recommends doing these markings somewhere 'secret' on the camera like inside a battery compartment is baffling. This 'uglification' even extended to certain examples from Leica's 'a la Carte' programme where only the original owner could have any resonance with the camera. So why not just photograph your camera's serial number and all it's individual chips or dents to identify it as yours in a dispute?

Hopefully, adding an out of place dot will not stop me or any police officer working theft and pawnshop detail from recognizing that base set from the camera or lens photographs.

Spacing adds a fail proof element that someone with reasonable abilities to think clearly, will recognize as a vital part in coding.

Do it or not, it's worked for me for many, many years.

 

[Donald Qualls]

That's very interesting to know, and IMO, is/was a really foolish thing to do, as everyone here knows the all too common dangers of Identity Thievery.

Hopefully whatever ID used, to mark out kit, it won't degrade it at all.

Well, for whatever it's worth, this decision was made in Idaho in the 1960s or earlier and it wouldn't surprise me at all if it's been changed since I last had an Idaho license (1986) -- which was before identity theft was a major issue.

 

[Bill Burk]

Definitely don't put your ssn on it

Why not? People can use it to look you up now.

 

[Alan Edward Klein]

I remember when I was a kid, the police would loan out an electric engraver to scribe your guns etc with your social security number.

Brilliant

They used to do something like that with automobiles.

 

[Alan Edward Klein]

Put your phone number on it so someone can call you after you lost it.

 

[Pieter12]

Hopefully, adding an out of place dot will not stop me or any police officer working theft and pawnshop detail from recognizing that base set from the camera or lens photographs.

Spacing adds a fail proof element that someone with reasonable abilities to think clearly, will recognize as a vital part in coding.

Do it or not, it's worked for me for many, many years.

Around here, the theft of a camera or even a whole studio full of camera gear wouldn't get any attention from the police department, so any markings would be futile--only diminish the resale value of the gear. Better to have receipts and photos of the items for insurance purposes.

 

[Alan Edward Klein]

I have two Leicaflex cameras that I bought new as dealer specials from Leitz with the dealers’ names engraved on the baseplate. Both were really good deals.
Of course, with M cameras, the base plate could be easily replaced.
I have seen some cameras with owner’s name on a sticker inside camera.

I get annoyed at car dealers who put their names on my brand new expensive automobile. Shouldn't the manufacturer's name be enough? Then they use personalized license plate holders with their dealer's name emblazoned on them as well. Then when the warranty runs out, neither of them wants to hear your complaints.

 

[Pieter12]

I get annoyed at car dealers who put their names on my brand new expensive automobile. Shouldn't the manufacturer's name be enough? Then they use personalized license plate holders with their dealer's name emblazoned on them as well. Then when the warranty runs out, neither of them wants to hear your complaints.

License plate frames can easily be removed. What seems silly to me are license plate frames that restate the car make and/or model. Isn't that on the car already?

I wonder if anyone has ever tried to lower the purchase price of an automobile by stating the dealer is getting advertising and should be charged accordingly. After all, there used to be and maybe still are companies that would pay you to either wrap your car or have a roof-top sign for advertising.

 

[MFstooges]

Do it or not, it's worked for me for many, many years.

Do you mean the dots actually work that someone at pawnshop or police station contact you after the theft?

 

[eli griggs]

Around here, the theft of a camera or even a whole studio full of camera gear wouldn't get any attention from the police department, so any markings would be futile--only diminish the resale value of the gear. Better to have receipts and photos of the items for insurance purposes.

Perhaps you should move.
:⁠,⁠-⁠)

Seriously, I've experienced a police officer who could care less about stolen photo kit, but just because a cop or his department doesn't normally pursue camera gear, it in no way negates my need to report the theft not my hope it will be found.

 

[eli griggs]

Why not? People can use it to look you up now.

Or every current identity theft purchaser of your SS number, can go to Disneyland, on your dime.

 

[beemermark]

FedEx dropped a repaired Minolta CLE off on my doorstep while I was out of country - signature required. Filed a stolen item report with the local county sheriff. About every three months for 2 years they would call me to say it wasn't recovered. They review pawn shop records, stolen goods recovered, and I don't know what else. I had the serial number and it never did turn up. Adding your phone number is the only thing that makes sense if you lose it.

 

[eli griggs]

Yes,

FedEx dropped a repaired Minolta CLE off on my doorstep while I was out of country - signature required. Filed a stolen item report with the local county sheriff. About every three months for 2 years they would call me to say it wasn't recovered. They review pawn shop records, stolen goods recovered, and I don't know what else. I had the serial number and it never did turn up. Adding your phone number is the only thing that makes sense if you lose it.

Adding your phone# is additional data to be engraved, and with most of us changing phone numbers over the years, now and again, might make receiving an alerting phone call a slim proposal, but go for it and have a professional do it small.

 

[guangong]

I get annoyed at car dealers who put their names on my brand new expensive automobile. Shouldn't the manufacturer's name be enough? Then they use personalized license plate holders with their dealer's name emblazoned on them as well. Then when the warranty runs out, neither of them wants to hear your complaints.

I agree with you about advertizing badges that deface new cars. However, the dealer’s names were discreetly engraved on base of camera. These cameras were special deals that Leitz gave to very successful dealers. Dealers passed the savings on to me.
By the way, does anyone on Photrio remember Willy Schwartz and Camera View Central that was near Grand Central Station until around midn1970s. A lovely man. Lost my favorite camera store when he retired.

 

[Alan Edward Klein]

I agree with you about advertizing badges that deface new cars. However, the dealer’s names were discreetly engraved on base of camera. These cameras were special deals that Leitz gave to very successful dealers. Dealers passed the savings on to me.
By the way, does anyone on Photrio remember Willy Schwartz and Camera View Central that was near Grand Central Station until around midn1970s. A lovely man. Lost my favorite camera store when he retired.

Crazy Eddie!!! Loved their ads. Is 47th Street Photo still around? Remember Cortlandt Street before they built the World Trade Center and forced all the stores to move.

Typical Crazy Eddie ad: