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Jacob vP · 10-22-2020, 12:37 PM - **6 Likes**

Hello all! Recently I bought an old Spotmatic in excellent condition. I immediately noticed a strange detail. The letter ”I” in ASAHI is missing. Does anyone know anything about this, or have you seen it before? I am interested in finding any ideas about this. I’ll post a photo of the camera.

Attached Images

Not a Number · 10-22-2020, 12:45 PM - **1 Like**

The top plate may have had some "bodywork" and was repainted.and the "I" got filled in.

Welcome to the Forums.

stevebrot · 10-22-2020, 01:52 PM - **2 Likes**

Welcome to the Pentax Forums.

The lettering is centered ~~and the kerning (spacing between letters) is wrong too~~* appropriate to the missing "I". I seem to remember a report of a Spotmatic with a missing "I" and believe it was due to a known-bad short-run of Asahi-branded top covers that made it past QC. I think the engraving on yours is original.

Steve

* I compared to the Spotmatics on my shelf and the kerning looks to be the same, though all the letters on yours are shifted a little bit to the right.

**gofour3** · 10-22-2020, 02:09 PM - **3 Likes**

Originally posted by stevebrot

I seem to remember a report of a Spotmatic with a missing "i" and believe it was due to a known-bad short-run of Asahi-branded top covers that made it past QC. I think the engraving on yours is original.

Yeah I guess if mints around the world can release money with "mistakes" on them, Pentax can as well. Collectors love this stuff!

Phil.

stevebrot · 10-22-2020, 02:18 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by Jacob vP

have you seen it before?

Here is a similar mistake only with the Heiland logo rendered as "HLILAND"on an H3. Note that ~~the kerning is also wider than it should be~~ munged version is also properly centered despite the missing "E" and transposed letters.

Bad Day at the Factory: A "HLILAND PENTAX" H3 - PentaxForums.com

Steve

Vendee · 10-22-2020, 02:23 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by stevebrot

Welcome to the Pentax Forums.

The lettering is centered and the kerning (spacing between letters) is wrong too.

Steve

I'm not sure about the lettering being centred there. Looking at images of other Spotmatics (I don't own one), and in particular the relationship between the Asahi and the Pentax, it looks like the "I" has been missed. In fact the relationship should be just like it is on the lens cap on the image above. The start of the "A" should be aligned with the start of the "E" below, and it is. The "I" should be between the "A" and "X". There is empty space there in the image above. I just don't think the "ASAHI" in centred on the top cover.

stevebrot · 10-22-2020, 02:37 PM - **2 Likes**

Originally posted by Vendee

I'm not sure about the lettering being centred there. Looking at images of other Spotmatics (I don't own one), and in particular the relationship between the Asahi and the Pentax, it looks like the "I" has been missed.

I edited my comment above after comparing to the SP on the counter in front of me. On mine the first "A" is just to the left of the "E" in PENTAX with the left leg of the "H" lined up with the right end of the cross of the "T".* The letters in the first row are shifted to the right overall compared to my copy.

Steve

* Ditto for my SV and SPII

Last edited by stevebrot; 10-22-2020 at 02:47 PM.

**TwoUptons** · 10-22-2020, 05:08 PM - **2 Likes**

I went to look until I remembered mine both say Honeywell

-Eric

titrisol · 10-23-2020, 07:31 AM - **1 Like**

It looks like an engraving error, you got an oddball!!!! awesome!

Jacob vP · 10-23-2020, 09:51 AM

Yes, it's right I'm new in this forum. 100 thanks for all quick responses! It's really great to meet all this knowledge. I'm new in owning a Pentax. And excuse any odd small mistakes in the language (I'm living in Sweden).
I do think it is a misstake in the factory when making the parts of the camera. The letters are not just printed, they are engraved and then filled with black paint. But somehow this one didn't get the last letter...

Vendee · 10-23-2020, 10:19 AM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by stevebrot

I edited my comment above after comparing to the SP on the counter in front of me. On mine the first "A" is just to the left of the "E" in PENTAX with the left leg of the "H" lined up with the right end of the cross of the "T".* The letters in the first row are shifted to the right overall compared to my copy.

Steve

* Ditto for my SV and SPII

Looks like there is some lack of consistency during manufacture there, which is surprising given the general quality of the Spotmatic.

**cpk** · 10-23-2020, 01:18 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by gofour3

Yeah I guess if mints around the world can release money with "mistakes" on them, Pentax can as well. Collectors love this stuff!

Postage stamps too.

leekil · 10-23-2020, 02:59 PM - **1 Like**

People have posted here before about getting a Pentax K100 instead of a K1000.

Paul Ewins · 10-23-2020, 06:03 PM - **1 Like**

In the 6x7 world there was a batch of helicoid extension tubes that went out marked as "hericoid" instead which is a little harder to understand.

10-22-2020, 12:37 PM - 6 Likes	#1
Jacob vP New Member Join Date: Oct 2020 Posts: 2	Asahi logo Spotmatic Hello all! Recently I bought an old Spotmatic in excellent condition. I immediately noticed a strange detail. The letter ”I” in ASAHI is missing. Does anyone know anything about this, or have you seen it before? I am interested in finding any ideas about this. I’ll post a photo of the camera. Attached Images

10-22-2020, 01:52 PM - 2 Likes	#3
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 42,007	Welcome to the Pentax Forums. The lettering is centered ~~and the kerning (spacing between letters) is wrong too~~* appropriate to the missing "I". I seem to remember a report of a Spotmatic with a missing "I" and believe it was due to a known-bad short-run of Asahi-branded top covers that made it past QC. I think the engraving on yours is original. Steve * I compared to the Spotmatics on my shelf and the kerning looks to be the same, though all the letters on yours are shifted a little bit to the right. Last edited by stevebrot; 10-22-2020 at 02:26 PM.

10-22-2020, 02:18 PM - 1 Like	#5
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 42,007	Originally posted by Jacob vP have you seen it before? Here is a similar mistake only with the Heiland logo rendered as "HLILAND"on an H3. Note that ~~the kerning is also wider than it should be~~ munged version is also properly centered despite the missing "E" and transposed letters. Bad Day at the Factory: A "HLILAND PENTAX" H3 - PentaxForums.com Steve Last edited by stevebrot; 10-22-2020 at 02:28 PM.

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10-22-2020, 12:45 PM - 1 Like	#2
Not a Number Moderator Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Venice, CA Posts: 10,526	The top plate may have had some "bodywork" and was repainted.and the "I" got filled in. Welcome to the Forums.

10-22-2020, 02:09 PM - 3 Likes	#4
gofour3 Site Supporter Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Vancouver, Canada Posts: 8,093	Originally posted by stevebrot I seem to remember a report of a Spotmatic with a missing "i" and believe it was due to a known-bad short-run of Asahi-branded top covers that made it past QC. I think the engraving on yours is original. Yeah I guess if mints around the world can release money with "mistakes" on them, Pentax can as well. Collectors love this stuff! Phil.

10-22-2020, 02:23 PM - 1 Like	#6
Vendee Pentaxian Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Norfolk, UK Posts: 1,134	Originally posted by stevebrot Welcome to the Pentax Forums. The lettering is centered and the kerning (spacing between letters) is wrong too. Steve I'm not sure about the lettering being centred there. Looking at images of other Spotmatics (I don't own one), and in particular the relationship between the Asahi and the Pentax, it looks like the "I" has been missed. In fact the relationship should be just like it is on the lens cap on the image above. The start of the "A" should be aligned with the start of the "E" below, and it is. The "I" should be between the "A" and "X". There is empty space there in the image above. I just don't think the "ASAHI" in centred on the top cover.

10-22-2020, 02:37 PM - 2 Likes	#7
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 42,007	Originally posted by Vendee I'm not sure about the lettering being centred there. Looking at images of other Spotmatics (I don't own one), and in particular the relationship between the Asahi and the Pentax, it looks like the "I" has been missed. I edited my comment above after comparing to the SP on the counter in front of me. On mine the first "A" is just to the left of the "E" in PENTAX with the left leg of the "H" lined up with the right end of the cross of the "T".* The letters in the first row are shifted to the right overall compared to my copy. Steve * Ditto for my SV and SPII Last edited by stevebrot; 10-22-2020 at 02:47 PM.

10-22-2020, 05:08 PM - 2 Likes	#8
TwoUptons Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2015 Photos: Albums Posts: 4,227	I went to look until I remembered mine both say Honeywell -Eric

10-23-2020, 07:31 AM - 1 Like	#9
titrisol Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: In the most populated state... state of denial Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,854	It looks like an engraving error, you got an oddball!!!! awesome!

10-23-2020, 09:51 AM	#10
Jacob vP New Member Join Date: Oct 2020 Posts: 2 Original Poster	Yes, it's right I'm new in this forum. 100 thanks for all quick responses! It's really great to meet all this knowledge. I'm new in owning a Pentax. And excuse any odd small mistakes in the language (I'm living in Sweden). I do think it is a misstake in the factory when making the parts of the camera. The letters are not just printed, they are engraved and then filled with black paint. But somehow this one didn't get the last letter...

10-23-2020, 10:19 AM - 1 Like	#11
Vendee Pentaxian Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Norfolk, UK Posts: 1,134	Originally posted by stevebrot I edited my comment above after comparing to the SP on the counter in front of me. On mine the first "A" is just to the left of the "E" in PENTAX with the left leg of the "H" lined up with the right end of the cross of the "T".* The letters in the first row are shifted to the right overall compared to my copy. Steve * Ditto for my SV and SPII Looks like there is some lack of consistency during manufacture there, which is surprising given the general quality of the Spotmatic.

10-23-2020, 01:18 PM - 1 Like	#12
cpk Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Montreal Posts: 641	Originally posted by gofour3 Yeah I guess if mints around the world can release money with "mistakes" on them, Pentax can as well. Collectors love this stuff! Postage stamps too.

10-23-2020, 02:59 PM - 1 Like	#13
leekil Pentaxian Join Date: May 2016 Photos: Albums Posts: 2,003	People have posted here before about getting a Pentax K100 instead of a K1000.

10-23-2020, 06:03 PM - 1 Like	#14
Paul Ewins Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Melbourne, Australia Photos: Albums Posts: 274	In the 6x7 world there was a batch of helicoid extension tubes that went out marked as "hericoid" instead which is a little harder to understand.

Asahi logo Spotmatic

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