[Leica] M-6 Scratches on Pressure Plate

[DonjR43198@aol.com]

Is the problem with scratches on the pressure plate a wide spread problem or 
has it been noticed by only a few?  I am picky when it comes to photo 
equipment and had not noticed the scratches my M-6 pressure plate put on the 
film.  However, I had run only one or two rolls through it, had the film 
processed and it was returned in a single length with the idea of making 
color prints from the Kodachrome 25.  I had been lazy and just cut it into 
strips of 6 negatives and slipped them into the negafiles.  

LUG alerted me to the potential problem and upon checking the M-6 negatives, 
the film scratches were very pronounced.

I wonder how many M-6 users have not examined their film to determine if the 
pressure plate is causing a problem. 

This afternoon Leica USA advised the cost of a new plate is $38.00 and the 
cost for polishing the pressure plate in the camera would be in the two 
figure range but the price has not been set so far and the wait is about 
three weeks.

If anyone has an idea how many problem M-6 pressure plates there are, it 
would be helpful to know.