Another Leica IIIa project....

[Davidhel]

Hi all

A few years back, many of you gave me help and advice in restoring a Leica IIIa. About a year ago I picked up another one that needed a 'bit of work'... this ultimately became more of a labour of love rather than a sound economic decision....

After many hours of labour.. it all worked out fine in the end...

BEFORE:



IMG_2205 by David Helmore, on Flickr

AFTER:



IMG_5718 by David Helmore, on Flickr

A couple of weeks back I decided to test it on our holiday to New Zealand... here are the first results...



761-012 The road from Te Anau to Gem Beach, New Zealand 2017 WKD RED by David Helmore, on Flickr

 

[presspass]

A wonderful restoration for one of the all-time classic LTM cameras. I have neither the patience nor the skill to do this. Congratulations.

 

[p.giannakis]

I admire people who have the skills to do things like this. Well done.

 

[ray*j*gun]

Great work saving another wonderful Barnack!

 

[Dralowid]

Nicely done! I always appreciate a project done for its own sake rather than money...

 

[DanskDynamit]

I admire people who have the skills to do things like this. Well done.

+1
amazing job!

 

[Ko.Fe.]

Impressive! And encouraging 🙂

 

[Jack Conrad]

Excellent work!

 

[BLKRCAT]

IR? I have one roll of HIE that I should give a try...

 

[Davidhel]

Thanks all for your kind words 😀

Initially my main motivation for getting this was to have a go at curtain replacement and to see if I could get a working mechanism. I also thought I would be able to use a range of zorki spare parts that I already had to complete it...

Whilst the winding mechanism fit.. it was awful! The pressure plate was also not interchangeable despite it coming directly from a Leica copy. In the end the only zorki parts I used were the 6 top plate screws. The rest was all repro or vintage Leica parts... and that’s when it started to get expensive!


Despite all this, I feel I have learnt heaps more around how these old barnacks work... and how they can be tweaked!

The roll of Ilford SFX film was almost 10 years out of date, so it was a very happy moment all round when it came out of the developing tank 😀

 

[aoresteen]

Great job. You took a parts chassis and brought it back to life.

If it were mine I would have had to send it to DAG along with a big check!

Well done!

 

[David Hughes]

Well done, another old camera saved.

Interesting also that Zorki parts don't fit. Showing that the old USSR makers had moved on from copying. Nice to get confirmation.

Regards, Davd

 

[davidnewtonguitars]

It is important to know that many Leica replacement screws can be found on the Zorki.

 

[Davidhel]

It was an interesting exercise ....

Whilst the winder from the zorki fits, and to my eye looked the same it was so hard to wind when fitted. As soon i was able to source an original part the difference was amazing! The pressure plate from the zorki was marginally too big. The four front screws from the zorki fitted, but looked very different from the originals... the lens mount from memory on the zorki was also slightly deeper... the lens mount screws are also interchangeable....

The zorki parts were all from a 1950’s zorki 1

 

[jonmanjiro]

BEFORE:



IMG_2205 by David Helmore, on Flickr

Such lovely hands you have. I hope the nail polish came through the repair work unscathed 😀

Seriously though, nice work!

 

[David Hughes]

It is important to know that many Leica replacement screws can be found on the Zorki.

And vice versa and they are easily scrounged if you are having an expensive repair done to a Leica when you ask...

Regards, David

 

[David Hughes]

It was an interesting exercise ....

Whilst the winder from the zorki fits, and to my eye looked the same it was so hard to wind when fitted. As soon i was able to source an original part the difference was amazing! The pressure plate from the zorki was marginally too big. The four front screws from the zorki fitted, but looked very different from the originals... the lens mount from memory on the zorki was also slightly deeper... the lens mount screws are also interchangeable....

The zorki parts were all from a 1950’s zorki 1

Even more interesting, thanks.

Regards, David

 

[Davidhel]

I always like to paint my nails before I start any repair work 😀