Leica LTM foreign object on my leica

Leica M39 screw mount bodies/lenses
I bet it's part of a custom adaptor for some esoteric flash. Those contacts go all the way through the resin, could it be that the flash connects to the rewind end, while the hotshoe side, via some missing piece that's maybe supposed to be mounted on the shoe, interfaces with a sync terminal?
 
EcoLeica: Does the top of that thing read "Metz" or "Wetzler"? I can't make it out completely from your pics. If it's "Wetzler", it's likely something added by Leica at the factory.

Ya know, Stephen Gandy might want to see this.
 
captainslack said:
EcoLeica: Does the top of that thing read "Metz" or "Wetzler"? I can't make it out completely from your pics. If it's "Wetzler", it's likely something added by Leica at the factory.

Ya know, Stephen Gandy might want to see this.

It is clearly Wetzlar, which means it was a factory extra or something made by an affiliated workshop for Leica. I would contact Leica about it, there might be some greybeard that recognises this. At any rate, the text makes this camera rare-collectable.
 
the top piece is a solenoid connector for a seperate device that was used to advance the wind knob and also operate the shutter release electrically for remote operations.
the luftwaffe used such cameras for ordanance testing photography in WW II.
 
foreign object on my leica

Another leicaman who might know something of that gadget is James L. Lager, the author of several major books on Leica...His email, if it's still the same, is: jlager@bellatlantic.net [He's very easy to deal with]...regards, bob cole
 
the camera left the factory without sync. during the 50's various after market devices were marketed to add sync. that device appears to be one of them, or at least part of it -- not sure which one, not that it matters much anymore.

Stephen
 
It's the female connection for a male flash cord. A semi-common flash plug back in the 50's and earlier. Leitz made a special base plate that allowed you attach their flash (bulb). Someone did a very professional job to add the plastic adapter to allow the use of any flash bulb connector.
 
Hi,

I'll go along with the flash socket. Not 3mm co-axial but a simple two pin job. A lot looked like that in the late 50's.

Look at a Praktica FX and you'll see three on the front. Looking like a row of "Pop" rivets. The middle one was common and the top was F and the bottom two X or the other way round.

Regards, David
 
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