IIIc without a shutter brake??

[colyn]

I just picked up a Leica IIIc and while doing some cleaning and lubing I noticed this camera has no shutter brake arm. Looking into the hole I see no fork and the ecentric cam shows no wear whatsoever indicating it may have had one at one time.

Has anybody else run into this before?

 

[Charles Woodhouse]

Hi Colyn,
I do a lot of servicing and curtain replacements of screw mount Leicas and I've never seen missing brake parts, but I imagine the shutter's operation sounds harsh. I could understand a situation where a zealous and uninformed repairer removed the brake lever for some reason, and couldn't replace it, and decided, Oh, bugger, and left it out, but from your description the entire brake assembly is missing and may never have been installed. If it's any help I may have spare used parts from a black dial IIIf.The previous owner took to the camera with a hammer, in a fit of depression.
Cheers, Charles.

 

[colyn]

Hi Colyn,
I do a lot of servicing and curtain replacements of screw mount Leicas and I've never seen missing brake parts, but I imagine the shutter's operation sounds harsh. I could understand a situation where a zealous and uninformed repairer removed the brake lever for some reason, and couldn't replace it, and decided, Oh, bugger, and left it out, but from your description the entire brake assembly is missing and may never have been installed. If it's any help I may have spare used parts from a black dial IIIf.The previous owner took to the camera with a hammer, in a fit of depression.
Cheers, Charles.

I know now why it doesn't have a brake. The previous owner took it to a local repair shop for overhaul several years ago. This particular repairman is a hack. I've known him for over 20 years and would never take a camera to him.

I suspect during reassembly he removed the brake assembly probably because he had no idea how it worked or how to adjust it.

I have since fixed the problem by replacing the bottom crate cover with one from my parts bin.

While stripping down the camera for a complete cleaning lube I also found several missing washers and 2 large pieces of film jammed between the closing curtain latch shaft and the crate.

The camera is now up and running as it should.

 

[Ash]

That doesn't sound healthy!!

I'm glad the IIIc landed in your capable hands Colyn 🙂