focotar 2 "attachment"

[rsosa]

hi everybody,

today bought a focotar 2 which shows usual dust spots and some tiny cleaning marks. Anyway, it is a big step from the original focotar the Ic came with and at a bargain price: USD 62

It came with an attachment I have no idea what is it for

its a piece like this one

but the long "handle" looks broken and a screw sits inside

this is mine:

I think its a device to use for aperture adjustment, but honestly dont know really why that would be necessary, any thoughts? Tom A im sure has the answer 🙂

thx in advance

rodrigo

 

[Tom A]

It was a"quick aperture" setting device. For normal use you really dont need it as the aperture ring is easily handled. Where it came in handy was for really large prints - you swung the head around - stacked heavy books on the base-board to stop the whole thing from falling over. Put the paper on the easel on the floor and flipped the lever to wide open for focus - the when you were sure it was dead on you could reach the lens aperture ring easily without getting up from a crouch. I have to admit that used to use a long dowel pin to knock the aperture ring down to f8 rather than to have to get up!!!!
I know it was also used on the Reprovit system. It does speed up setting apertures - but I suspect it is a bit of overkill.
You can probably get the screw out and replace it. Being Leica is most likely a metric screw - either a M1.5 or M2 screw.
If you intend to use it - be sure to place it so that the pin is off-set a bit. You dont want working aperture having it sticking straight out. It is bad enough banging your head in the lamphousing - have a pin project out makes you go digital or other metal issues!!!

I dont know if it was a stock Leica item - but I have seen some around and it could have been a "special order" or something that was supplied with the Reprovit. Cant find mine anymore though so I cant verify the stock number.

 

[rsosa]

Sure I was you had it! Thanks Tom 🙂

 

[ChrisLivsey]

14160 comes up as filter adapter.http://www.schouten-select.com/products.asp?gid=224&aid=875&Leica+14160+Adapter

Could it be that this was adapted by a previous owner to mimic the device Tom mentions and is why it does not have the "correct" long handle ?

 

[rsosa]

The handle screws inside the ring like a screw
That broken part of the "handle" (the screw) sits inside the ring.

If the 14160 number sits at 5 o'clock, then you can see it in the pic at 12 o'clock where the broken side of the handle is.
That piece, the 14160 screws into the one which has the 2 screws at 9 o'clock and 3 o'clock. Why? Dont know, maybe to add a filter? the focotar 2 doesnt seem to have any thread for filters.

 

[Ronald M]

It was used on the copy set with focoslide. When you slide the camera in place and slide the light away that was used for focus/composition, then
the aperture closed automatically because the lever hit something.

Varients also were made for copy setup where the lens was up inside extension tubes.

Have all this stuff, but no way to give names and catalog numbers.