Tower 48
The Tower 48 is a LTM-mount film rangefinder camera, introduced in 1957. Leica camera price index →
Reference maintained by Thomas Boots
General
- Mount
- LTM
- Release Year
- 1957
- Type
- Film
- Model Number
- 48
- Serial Range
- Approximately 5005x to 5117x, observed collector range
Dimensions
- Width
- 139mm
- Height
- 73mm
Viewfinder & Shutter
- Framelines
- None, separate fixed 50 mm viewfinder and coupled rangefinder
- Shutter Speeds
- T, 1 s, 1/2 s, 1/5 s, 1/10 s, 1/15 s, B, 1/25 s, 1/50 s, 1/100 s, 1/200 s and 1/500 s
- Shutter Type
- Cloth
Features
- Hot Shoe
- No
- Tripod Socket
- Yes
- Self Timer
- No
- Flash Sync
- 1/25 s
Tower 48
The Tower 48 is the Sears-market version of the lever-wind Nicca 3-F. It uses a die-cast LTM body, separate finder and rangefinder windows, automatic flash synchronization and a cloth focal-plane shutter reaching 1/500 second.
Compared with Tower 45 and 46, it omits the rear loading flap, 1/1000 setting and dioptre adjustment. The documented standard outfit used a Nikkor 5 cm f/2 lens.
History
Development and Launch
Lens and body evidence indicates a late-1957 US introduction, later than the Japanese release of the equivalent lever-wind Nicca 3-F.
Production Evolution
Observed serials approximately span 5005x to 5117x. The camera is engraved “Tower”, while the full 48 designation is confirmed by its Sears user manual.
Special Variants
No special edition is documented. Tower 48 is a standard Sears commercial model, even though the number is usually absent from the body.
Collector Notes
The most reliable distinction from Tower 45 and 46 is functional: Tower 48 stops at 1/500 and lacks both the hinged rear flap and rewind-knob dioptre lever. Confirm identification from the manual or outfit when possible.
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