Leica I service manual/advice

[Timmyjoe]

I'm looking at purchasing a Leica I that I know will need service. The shutter curtains are fine, but the shutter speeds are off. Anyone have access to a service manual for these 1920's-1930's Barnack's? I've heard that they are easier to service than the later screw mount Leicas, and I've had a long history of servicing German motion picture cameras, so I think it is something I should be able to handle. Just would like a manual to look at, or some advice from anyone who has serviced one of these nearly 100 year old cameras.

Thanks for any and all input.

Best,
-Tim

 

[Valkir1987]

Gain some experience first with a Fed or Zorki. Some parts like the dome underneath the speed dial only come of undamaged with special tools. Some parts like the speed selector are pressed, and only come off with a pulley. The Leica camera repair handbook by Thomas Tomosy gives you some insight on the disassembly of the early 'standard' models.

The curtains in my Leica I Model e are still original. Even though they are light tight, the condition (or stiffness) or the rubber layer is important to get proper high shutter speeds above 1/100th and even exposure with a speed tester.

I should still have some photos of the time when I serviced mine. I can try and look them up. And exploded view can be found here:

Exploded view of the Model E

 

[Timmyjoe]

Very helpful Valkir1987, thank you.

Best,
-Tim

 

[Dralowid]

On the last Leica I I workd on (10,xxx) the speed dial unscrewed once the small grub screw was removed. The dome below also unscrewed.

 

[Timmyjoe]

Thanks Dralowid.

There was a discussion on here about servicing the original Leica I or Leica Ia a number of years ago, but I can't find it now. I thought a lot more folks on here had experience with those original Barnack cameras.

Best,
-Tim

 

[Erik van Straten]

I have some experience with repairing the Leica 1A. The best thing to do first is to put a piece of film in the camera. Do you have old Leica cassettes? If not, put a new film in the camera, click away, develop the film, see what happens and tell us if anything went wrong.

 

[Erik van Straten]

gelatin silver print (elmar 50mm f3.5) leica 1a (1928)

Amsterdam, KNSM, 2022

 

[Dralowid]

Thanks Dralowid.

There was a discussion on here about servicing the original Leica I or Leica Ia a number of years ago, but I can't find it now. I thought a lot more folks on here had experience with those original Barnack cameras.

Best,
-Tim

Yes Tim there were plenty of threads in them there far off days but I fear we are all getting older/blinder etc etc!

Current trend seems to be to send them away for an unspecified but very long time and spend lots of money because they are now apparently too valuable for mere amateurs to fiddle with. This I do not agree with, they are really quite simple. (I still work on movie cameras but specialise in French manufacturers of 8mm just to keep the things tight!).

Erik, you often recommend books available from an Ebay seller, what's his name? ...is it Nobbysparrow or something?

Ah, here, found him but can't see any books:

for sale | eBay

Find great deals on eBay for . Shop with confidence.

www.ebay.co.uk

 

[Erik van Straten]

Yes, Nobbysparrow has written the best Leica-repairbooks available. IIIf and IIIc; Cleaning old Leica lenses and the Leica M3 repair book.

There are also copies made of the original Spare Parts Price List books for the Leica 1 - 111a syn. The original books are by Leitz themselves; very clear drawings of all the parts and their place in the construction. Also available are copies of books with servicing instructions etc. of other models, M3, M2, IIIg etc. I've found all these on the internet.

The Leica l is a very simple camera; the Leicas ll and lll are variants of the l.

 

[Timmyjoe]

One of the fun things about getting old is surprising yourself by finding things you purchased years ago and forgot about. Just found Thomas Tommy's Leica Camera Repair Handbook, and Kuramochi Nobuyuki's (who I believe to be Nobbysparrow) How to Clean Old Leica Lenses and Accessories in a storage container in my shop. Yippee!

So at least now I have a guide to servicing the Leica Ia if I'm able to acquire it. Thanks for everyone's input.

Best,
-Tim

 

[Dralowid]

...and here's a page from Rick Oleson's website

http://rick_oleson.tripod.com/index-90.html

 

[d_c]

There are also copies made of the original Spare Parts Price List books for the Leica 1 - 111a syn. The original books are by Leitz themselves; very clear drawings of all the parts and their place in the construction.

Any chance you could forward a link to the spare parts lists for the I - IIIa?

 

[Valkir1987]

Just had to share one of my photos with the Model E, Made on Ilford Pan-F with the 5cm Elmar. Nobbysparrow is great. I repaired many camera's with parts from his store. Don Goldberg from Dagcamera also has Leica parts. But if the camera is good condition, you probably won't need them.

Taking pictures and collecting cameras is addictive, and repairing them can be too. 🙂

 

[Timmyjoe]

I was out of town late last week and the individual I was planning on buying the Leica 1A from sold it before I got back in town. Bummer. So I will keep looking. Thanks again for everyone's advice.

Best.
-Tim

 

[Erik van Straten]

Any chance you could forward a link to the spare parts lists for the I - IIIa?

I have the "Ersatzteilliste zur Leica I - IIIa syn", maybe you can look for it on the internet. It has 26 pages. If you can't find it, I can make a copy I guess.

 

[Erik van Straten]

Shot with Leica l No. 6535 in 2019.

 

[d_c]

I have the "Ersatzteilliste zur Leica I - IIIa syn", maybe you can look for it on the internet. It has 26 pages. If you can't find it, I can make a copy I guess.

Thanks Erik - if you could forward a PDF of it that would be much appreciated - I've had a good look around but don't seem to be able to find a trace of it anywhere.

 

[GMOG]

Funny thing seeing this thread pop up now. I'm in the process of taking apart my 1930 A, a crusty example that was exposed to sea water. I think that with fresh curtains and a proper cleaning of all parts it will work again. If anyone has questions about getting into one of these oldies maybe I can help.

 

[Timmyjoe]

I have the "Ersatzteilliste zur Leica I - IIIa syn", maybe you can look for it on the internet. It has 26 pages. If you can't find it, I can make a copy I guess.

Erik, any chance you could post a link to a PDF of that manual? Would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Best,
-Tim

 

[Timmyjoe]

Funny thing seeing this thread pop up now. I'm in the process of taking apart my 1930 A, a crusty example that was exposed to sea water. I think that with fresh curtains and a proper cleaning of all parts it will work again. If anyone has questions about getting into one of these oldies maybe I can help.

View attachment 4840851View attachment 4840854View attachment 4840852
View attachment 4840853

Oh my goodness, that looks really sad. Especially the outer case. Has the sea water corroded away any of the material?

Best,
-Tim