[Leica] Millenium 888 (long-ish beer story)

["Miro Jurcevic" <miroj@ozemail.com.au>]

This is the Millenium story as related by a local dealer.

Since there are going to be, I think, 2000 Millenium M6's, one would expect
that the serial number ending in 888 would be something sought after in
various parts of the world. It is unique and in some places, popular.

As it turns out the distribution of the 2K M6 was done by lottery, but
nobody even thought that the 888 M6 would be in the pile. It should go to a
leader or head of state.

On hearing of the 2K M6, a Leica collector in Sydney rushed into his local
store and immediately asked for the Leica M6 .....888 serial number. The
store keeper being rather used to unusual requests, felt that this one was
the one that would be the tallest order ever. He explained to the client
what the odds were, after 20 years of selling in Australia. So he laughed at
the idea of ever seeing the camera, let alone selling it.

In order to keep the collector happy, the dealer dipped his hand into his
own private collection and sold him his personal 2K M6, which had not
arrived yet. He picked up the phone and placed another sales order, but the
cameras were sold out. The only chance the dealer had to get his own 2K M6
was to wait for the second of the two cameras that had been ordered. (and
paid for by the first one)

As it turns out, the camera lottery put the 888 M6 in Australia. But where
would it go from there. It would surely never leave the importers boardroom
table.

Several months prior to delivery forecast, a brown paper package arrives at
the store, it gets opened and inside the box is the Leica Millenium M6 888
serial number. The dealer had joked about it and there it was. Someone in
the wharehouse, being efficient, had seen an M6 floating around, late on a
Friday afternoon, and filled the backorder with the first camera available.
(as the legend goes anyhow)

So now the dealer is looking for that one buyer, proudly tells the story and
then with great delight pulls the special M6 out of the safe, hold the
plastic bag only, no fingerprints. Whilst the other staff politely ask,
'....is he telling the M6 story again ?'

Whether it is for love or profit, all I know is that the dealer is looking
for an M6J to compensate himself for the sale of the 888 Millenium M6 at a
huge huge profit.