Leather case for the Leica with accessories

[David Hughes]

Hi,

I recently bought one on a well known auction site. You can see it on ebay.co.uk as item number 320798469271.

Looking in Leitz's general catalogues for 1933, 36 and 38 I can't find it although the ETTRE is the nearest. Measured at the base, externally, my one is roughly 6¼" by 7" and about 3¼" high (desk to top of lid). The ETTRE is 6¼" square.

So the question is what have I got?

It's a bit of a Frankenstein in that the innards seem to have been rearranged in a different layout. And a lot of bits have been covered with chamois leather, luckily the glue is failing. Re-stitching won't be a problem but it would be nice to know what model it should be and, perhaps, what the layout should be inside.

The worst part is 11 holes in the outer leather with about 4 or 5 small (½" or ¾" long) screws through them to hold the fittings in place. Luckily this part of the world is where the traditional craft is shoes and leather goods. So I ought to be able to get the fine leather for the interior; or perhaps a "Hallo Kitty" pink baize lining and badge? Only joking! But after seeing that M6 I can't get the image out of my head...

Regards, David

 

[Simon Bruxelles]

I recently bought an ETTRE

I recently bought an ETTRE

but I think yours may be the earlier ETGAM version on account of the round lock. I am sure it will be beautiful when restored. Please show us the "after" pictures.

 

[250swb]

A nice case, but the first thing I do when buying a camera that comes with a leather case is quarantine the old case and never let it near any of my cameras or lenses ever again. Fungus and mold spores are almost impossible to remove from leather, and unless I know the full history (like I have had it from new), I wouldn't risk a lens or body. Even then as they get older any leather case can attract mold spores and on which basis I don't even use modern leather half cases and such like.

Steve

 

[David Hughes]

Simon, thanks. I'll have to find a picture of the ETGAM and compare. The lock still works, to my surprise.

Steve, thanks too. I shalln't be using it; it was more of a challenge. In fact as it stands I doubt if I'll be able to use it.

Yesterday I removed all the chamois leather and found that it was liberally coated with glue inside. I'm doing some test to find a suitable glue remover.

Looking at the blocks inside and comparing wood etc I've decided that half are missing and wonder about them. I could do something in the style of the ETTRE and will probably make a dummy from little bits of card to see what it looks like.

Logic suggests it would hold the body with the 50 on and have space for the 35, 90 and a view-finder. Plus the little tin cassette holder and a couple of filters. So I'll position the lens bit on axis and the vf and cassette holders symmetrically. It might work.

Regards, David

 

[EdwardKaraa]

Even then as they get older any leather case can attract mold spores and on which basis I don't even use modern leather half cases and such like.

Steve

Is this documented? There are plenty of fancy leather cases and camera bags being sold for the RF gear. Is there a genuine reason for concern?

 

[250swb]

Well leather is an organic material, hence things can feed off it and grow on it. So if a camera or lens with fungus growing inside has been in an old case I would have thought it an ideal enviroment to hang around in until the next camera comes along. Fungus is waiting for humidity and temperature changes to kick start it's growth, what could be a better environment for the spores than a material that itself responds to humidity and temperature? Surely everybody living in even a moderate climate has seen the inevitable moldy shoe by the side of the road?

Steve

 

[Simon Bruxelles]

Another way of introducing fungus into a lens is to breathe on it before cleaning it with the end of your tie. The decline in the number of photographers who wear neckties while taking photographs is in direct correlation to the decline in the number of lenses suffering scuff marks and fungal infections.

 

[David Hughes]

Fungus, bacteria and viruses can lurk all over the place. Think carpets and rugs for a start. Looking at the amount of leather in the house I can't see a camera case being very dangerous. If I got rid of all the leather I'd have no shoes, my trousers would fall down and there would be nothing to sit on...

And how my wife would react to all her shoes, handbags, gloves etc being binned is not something I'd like to think about.

Moreover, the camera and lenses were made in a time when coatings, which the bacteria attack, didn't exist. And fungus can be cleaned off if spotted soon enough: that ought to be easy if the lens is used and looked after.

Getting back on target, I've now taken the case apart and have decided, after measuring carefully and looking at the heights of the lens and cut-out's axis that there's several cases gone into making this one. A real Frankenstein.

Testing the reconstruction I think it must be pre-war as the filters with the screw and clamp ring are the only ones you can put into and take out of their compartments. More modern ones need the thing turned over and thumped to dislodge them!

The yukky, yellowing glue can be removed but it's a slow tedious job. I'll sort out some pictures of it soon.

By the way, I wondered about the chamois leather, as Contax and Kiev, lined their cases this way but it's so crudely done and fitted that I guess it's a part of the modifications. I'm being very polite when I say that...

Regards, David