Perhaps you are right, Phillip.
But the cap you describe is exactly like the five I own and which were
sold to me as aftermarket ones. Same precise way of machining...
Maybe I got Olympus Originals and was only charged for 3rd party ;-)
My first OM-1, bought in early 1973 - less than a year after its
initial release as M-1 - came wit a plastic body cap.
But OTOH some of the early lenses (72mm and 100mm) did have a metal
lens screw-in cap on the front. They are also much better for
protection of the glass than their plastic equivalents, albeit a bit
slower in handling.
Frank.
On Tue, 11 Apr 2000 14:05:57 -0700, Phillip Franklin
<pfranklin@xxxxxxxx> wrote:
>Frank & Wayne & others,
>
>This particular cap looks to me to be an authentic Olympus product. It
>does not say "For Olympus" or "OM" as most after market caps say. The
>front is flat with a chrome looking circle which is just slightly
>smaller than the circumference of the cap itself. The edge of the cap
>is machined to have serrated type of grip. It has the red dot alignment
>mark on the very outside edge. The 3 pronged bayonet mount is exactly
>like all other newer body caps in plastic. It even has an identical
>screwed in stop like all of the OM lenses. The machining is so good
>that the fit to the body is as tight as any lens. On the back of the
>cap is these words in circular format "Metal Camera Body Cap Japan" In
>the center in straight lettering is "OLYMPUS OM-1" The word Olympus
>appears to be in the official Olympus font style. "OLYMPUS" is on the
>top line and "OM-1" is on the line beneath. I would be surprised is this
>was not an official OM-1 body cap. If it was made by a third party they
>would have spared no expense in producing such a high quality item. It
>would seem much less expensive to just mold these out of plastic.
>What's most remarkable about this cap is it's fine machining and
>attention to detail. I know I've had this thing since 1981 and it
>appears to be holding up it's appearance very well. My guess is that
>this thing was probably made in the early 1970's. Obviously this is the
>only one like this I can remember seeing. I did buy an OM-1 new in 1974
>(prior to MD model) and I honestly don't know what happened to the body
>cap. Knowing me back then I probably tossed it. After attaching the
>50/f1.8 lens I saw no need for it. I discovered this in some moving
>boxes when I moved from Northern to Southern California in 1981. Could
>it be my original OM-1 body cap from 1974? I honestly can't say. I
>just have no recollection of body caps back in the '70's. Must have
>been the partying. Oh well I'm hoping a very wealthy eccentric Japanese
>collector is lurking on this board and will offer me a small fortune
>for this truly rare specimen so that I can can purchase some food and
>necessities after paying my taxes. Otherwise I will donate it to an
>international camera museum for the entire world to enjoy after my
>demise. Any ideas for displaying this rare gem?
>
>Phillip Franklin
>
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