Half Race

[rxmd]

Hi,

I've read the term "Half Race" Leica quite often now, referring to wartime or postwar IIIc's (or something). What's a Half Race camera, what race, and why half of it?

Philipp

 

[DrLeoB]

"Half Race" refers to the style of ball bearings used on the main curtain drum. The bearings are retained in a small disk, without an external race(retaining and bearing loading face) as part of the assembly. The bearings actually ride on a plate formed by the body and an inner plate provided by the shutter speed setting assembly.

 

[DrLeoB]

Curtain Drum Half Race, IIIc

Curtain Drum Half Race, IIIc

Pix always help.......😕

 

[rxmd]

I see.

What's special about Half Race Leicas as opposed to other Leicas?

 

[DrLeoB]

MUCH smoother winding action, quieter shutter action, more consistent speeds.....All good.

 

[LeicaTom]

Could`nt have said it better myself Leo!

The "Half Race" bearing cameras started with 392800 (APPROX) and ended around 397607
these were the last of the early bodied IIIC`s with the raised area under the rewind lever
*see my avatar*

Half Race Leica`s are uncommon and hard to find in good condidtion, most of them were like the IIIC K`s used up harshly by the US Army or by GI`s who bought them after the war and many of them also have been modified into IIIF BD`s
(quite possibly the ultimate hybrid "user" LTM Leica IIIC camera?)

The "satin" chrome finishes on these are prone to brightmarks and early brassing, I`ve never seen a camera of this era flake or peel chrome, but the camera`s do wear eaisier then prewar styled Leitz chrome bodies

I personally prefer them over other LTM Leica`s of the 40`s and 50`s, they do run smoother and it`s also a "vanity" thing too the "stepper" part looks kool, sets it apart from other Leica`s of the era

Tom

 

[raid]

OK... my IIIC is not one of them. I am really depressed! [kidding]

 

[LeicaTom]

OK... my IIIC is not one of them. I am really depressed! [kidding]

Well the first were all wearing the stepper rewind style bodies, the first production ones, but I`m also researching the early post 397xxx cameras , one`s made up to 403000 to see what if any changes were made internally to them as well and also quality control etc.

Tom