Leica LTM Plastic Cards for Notes

Leica M39 screw mount bodies/lenses
David Hughes

David Hughes

David Hughes
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These are plastic cards to write notes on in pencil. The one on the right came with some Zorki bits and pieces from a dealer in the Ukraine and the one on the left was in the back of a 1950 Leica IIIc ever ready case.

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The question is, has anyone else seen them?

I've never seen a mention of them anywhere and wonder about them. They fit in the pocket at the back and I've other bits and pieces in the collection/heap found there.

Regards, David
 
Is this with a bottom-loading camera? I think it might be to protect the shutter curtain while loading the film, and it helps to guide the film into the right place.
 
I have a red (srbp) one that came in a Leica III case, and one very similar from a Canon IV. Have never seen a white (ish) one before though....

Chris could be right regarding the original pupose too.
 
There was a discussion of those cards here a few months back. IIRC the consensus was that they are not to be used for loading; Leica instruction booklets never mentioned them.

The white ones could indeed be for notes (with some kind of dry-erase crayon). Red, maybe for checking the shutter? You know, lens off, looking in, with light over your shoulder you can just see a reflection on the pressure plate. A red card inserted instead of film is easier to see.
 
OK so I just searched RFF for "leica" "loading" "card" with Google advanced and opinions in those threads are all over the map. Some swear it's for loading, others vehemently oppose the thought.

Personally, I would never insert anything other than film between the shutter and pressure plate. I don't even see how it's supposed to help! Among other things, you'd have to keep that card really clean, too.

In my experience, the tricky bit about bottom-loading has never been getting the film into the slot, anyway. Keeping it straight and secure on the take-up spool is what takes some getting used to.
 
Using a bit of card to guide the film is a modern idea, imo. And I call them note cards as I was told ages ago that that was what they were.

Here's a photo showing (badly) the pocket in the back of a IIIc case. usually these pockets have a stiffener in them that's covered with red or back material and stitched into the case.

840179713_PWf3z-L.jpg


In the photo you can see an exposure table, an import certificate and the note thing. I have seen the import certificates for both Leitz NY and Leitz London. This one is the NY version, and it mentions that the card is to fit into the pocket in the ERC.

FED 1's, Zorki 1's and 2's have a similar pocket in all the ones I've seen and all the Leica ones up to the IIIg. The IIIg case hasn't one of these pockets as it is cut away for the flash socket(?s) and there's a plastic window for the film reminder.

I'm sorry the picture is so dreadful but it was taken in a hurry as we are supposed to be going out soon.

Regards, David
 
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At least one of my LTMs has the pocket and card, as does my Dad's Nikon S.

It is a note-card. The Nikon card has a DOF chart on one side and is blank on the other.

One of these cards has pencil notes from a previous owners' photo shoot long past.

Older card are celluloid, and are usually pretty crumbly.

I have several Leica owners books, plus two editions of Morgan & Lester's Leica Manual , none of which mention using any sort of card to aid in film loading. ( Nor do they discuss removing the lens, setting opening the shutter on "Z" and manipulating the film through the lens opening.).
 
Several of my FSUs came with these cards in the back of the case, in a small pocket. They're intended for pencilling notes on and not for anything to do with loading. One of mine even has some previous (russian) owner's scribblings on it. My IIIC came with no case so I've no idea if they normally had them, I'd guess they did.
 
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