Leica LTM Half Race

Leica M39 screw mount bodies/lenses

rxmd

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Hi,

I've read the term "Half Race" Leica quite often now, referring to wartime or postwar IIIc's (or something). What's a Half Race camera, what race, and why half of it?

Philipp
 
"Half Race" refers to the style of ball bearings used on the main curtain drum. The bearings are retained in a small disk, without an external race(retaining and bearing loading face) as part of the assembly. The bearings actually ride on a plate formed by the body and an inner plate provided by the shutter speed setting assembly.
 
Curtain Drum Half Race, IIIc

Curtain Drum Half Race, IIIc

Pix always help.......:confused:
 
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MUCH smoother winding action, quieter shutter action, more consistent speeds.....All good.
 
Could`nt have said it better myself Leo!

The "Half Race" bearing cameras started with 392800 (APPROX) and ended around 397607
these were the last of the early bodied IIIC`s with the raised area under the rewind lever
*see my avatar*

Half Race Leica`s are uncommon and hard to find in good condidtion, most of them were like the IIIC K`s used up harshly by the US Army or by GI`s who bought them after the war and many of them also have been modified into IIIF BD`s
(quite possibly the ultimate hybrid "user" LTM Leica IIIC camera?)

The "satin" chrome finishes on these are prone to brightmarks and early brassing, I`ve never seen a camera of this era flake or peel chrome, but the camera`s do wear eaisier then prewar styled Leitz chrome bodies

I personally prefer them over other LTM Leica`s of the 40`s and 50`s, they do run smoother and it`s also a "vanity" thing too the "stepper" part looks kool, sets it apart from other Leica`s of the era

Tom
 
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raid said:
OK... my IIIC is not one of them. I am really depressed! [kidding]

Well the first were all wearing the stepper rewind style bodies, the first production ones, but I`m also researching the early post 397xxx cameras , one`s made up to 403000 to see what if any changes were made internally to them as well and also quality control etc.

Tom
 
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