Leica LTM Baseplate for IIIf

[Justin Low]

My IIIf didn't come with a baseplate. Where could I buy one from, and how much would one expect to pay?

Or, in the flavor of laptoprob's thread, would anyone have a spare? 🙂

Thanks!

 

[Keith]

Justin,

I have a spare base plate that was on a IIIf I bought a while ago ... the camera had been dropped on the corner of the plate and as the rest of the camera was cosmeticly perfect I sourced another one to make it all perfect. This is the later model one ... apparently there are two types.

You can have it for the price of the post if it's the right one and you can stand the dent!

Cheers ... Keith

 

[Justin Low]

Hi Keith,

That would be perfect. Thanks! I'll get in touch through PM.

Justin

 

[Keith]

We need some screwmount expert to tell us when the IIIf changed to the later plate! 🙂

I knew ... but can't remember! 😕

 

[Justin Low]

Perhaps with the change to the red dial? My IIIf is a red-dial one, so I guess it's a later version. 🙂

 

[Jerevan]

How does the later plate differ from the earlier?

 

[Keith]

How does the later plate differ from the earlier?

It has an extra guide that retains the take up spool more positively I think ... but don't quote me! 😛

 

[Jerevan]

Ah, I see... I thought that all IIIf plates looked the same. You learn something new everyday... Mine's a RD, serial 646xxx and has the pin that holds up the film so it doesn't ride on the sprocket holes, and two small guides on both sides of the plate (front and back).

 

[laptoprob]

Afaik all IIf and IIIf plates are more or less the same. I have two now, the one with a small tripod mount I got for post cost from normclark. I can ship it to you for mail cost.
I think starting with the IIIc the whole camera was redesigned. The camera became about 2mm wider. The lens mount got mounted on the baseframe, the top plate became one piece and the shutter speed dial got bigger. You can easily recognise this because the later models have chrome (or black) metal from the mount upwards, no vulcanite.
The later base plate has the two guiderails and a rigid lever that sticks into the body.
And there are many, many more differences.

 

[Xmas]

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=31756&highlight=IIIf+finger

Has serial number

If your serial is earlier you need to have a part of crate filed (I think). IIIC will benifit from the later baseplate or adding the finger to the IIIC baseplate, and crate mods to clear the finger.

Noel

 

[laptoprob]

So there is more between plates and plates.
May these plate changes also be the cause of my IIIa eating sprocket holes? Or should a IIIa accept modernday cassettes without problems.
I think the latter is true so I will have to look for another cause...

 

[colyn]

We need some screwmount expert to tell us when the IIIf changed to the later plate! 🙂

I knew ... but can't remember! 😕

The guide was added starting with serial number 570xxx..

 

[Justin Low]

Now I'm confused. Well, I guess I'll take Rob up on his offer too. Will see which one fits, which one doesn't. The IIIf I bought has a serial number of 637xxx.

 

[laptoprob]

If the 'finger' Noel mentions is the strip pushing about 15mm into the body, both of my plates have them.

 

[colyn]

Now I'm confused. Well, I guess I'll take Rob up on his offer too. Will see which one fits, which one doesn't. The IIIf I bought has a serial number of 637xxx.

You need the one with the guide that holds the film up.

 

[Keith]

You need the one with the guide that holds the film up.

I ran into the same problem with my IIIf and I think it was you that put me straight over the differences ... I was lucky to get an immaculate plate off eBay for $30.00. The damage on the old one is a bit of an eyesore but it still did the job ... I just couldn't deal with the look of it! 😛

 

[colyn]

I ran into the same problem with my IIIf and I think it was you that put me straight over the differences ... I was lucky to get an immaculate plate off eBay for $30.00. The damage on the old one is a bit of an eyesore but it still did the job ... I just couldn't deal with the look of it! 😛

Leica at one time would modify older IIIc's and IIIf's so you could use the later base plate but I don't know if it is still available..

You sound like me.. I sold an otherwise excellent condition M2 because of 2 dents in the top plate.

The camera worked fine but I hated the look of the damaged plate.

 

[Xmas]

Leitz UK stopped LTM maintenance about '65-'70 alas memory is fading.

A good repair person will make up a finger in brass stock, drill & countersink baseplate, and rivet in counter sinks. As well as relieving the chassis to clear.

Or you can use one of the rfdr special bodges (sorry guys - make works - better).

Or you can use the leitz concentric casettes, (my chosen option).

My M2 top plate looks liked it stopped a .44. works ok still.

Noel

 

[ZorkiKat]

You can fit a IIIc 'fingerless' baseplate on a IIIf body which was designed to take in the 'fingered' baseplates. The reverse can't be done since the finger went into a cutout in the shutter crate. Otherwise the baseplate dimensions between IIIc, early IIIf, later IIIf, and even IIIg are the same.

My 1943 IIIc was modified to take in the fingered baseplate.

Jay