First introduced in 1933, the serial number indicates this unit was made in 1955, the year my parents married. This was a breakthrough camera design using the new 35mm film cartridges and also the most copied camera design. Both the Russian and Japanese sold copies of this compact camera. The screw mount Leica (aka M39 mount) was used by legendary photographers such as Henri Cartier-Bresson. Because it is the most copied camera design the M39 mount lenses are widely available in the vintage lens market. I bought this kit from a local camera repair store. Before I can received it, they sent it to the only Leica repair shop in USA, Youxin Ye. He is so busy that the expected turnaround was 4 months. There is no light meter. You focus with one viewer and then compose with another viewer. The integrated viewfinder only came later in the Leica M series. I added a little orange contrasting filter designed to aid focusing and an extra shutter release button. To load film, you must first cut the leader of the film to be longer just like older 35mm film so that it won’t damage the shutter and you should not change shutter speed until the film is advanced which also cocks the shutter. Holding it feels like holding a piece of jewelry.