Leica I A, My last chance

[acanalda]

Hi to all,

Months ago I bougth a I A Leica. Good price but bad shape and conditions. The shutter was broken and the camera was completely "enameled". No engravings are visible as they are under the paint. On this Christmas I've decided to strip the hole camera to see its real health status.

First, I took out the old paint wiht a chemical product. Bad news as I discovered that the previous owner sanded the plates with a dremel tool or similar :bang:. Good news. I found the complete serial number and the other engravings. They are not so deep but still alive. (see photos) :angel:. I have use 0000 sand paper to reduce all the dremel marks and at this moment I think I'm in the right way.

Second. As I suspected, the shutter was in a very bad condition. I'm working in a new curtains and new straps.

Well, that's the situation. Now I have a couple of questions.

1.- Is it possible to deep the engravings ?

if not,

2.- How can I paint both plates and also make visible those engravings ?

3.- Is there any exploded view of the Leica I ? I took several note and drawings but an original will help.

Thanks for your support and sorry about my bad english 😉

Regards

Arturo

 

[Vickko]

Hmmm, I've been down this path

Hmmm, I've been down this path

I restored a Leica Standard. And I've thought of doing the same for the 1A type that you have. Here are my comments:

1. to make the engraving deeper, it needs to be engraved by a skilled engraver, like someone who has done this with jewelry, and manually engrave the lettering with a graver tool.

2. the original filling was not white paint, but I believe it was a white casting metal. I do not know how to apply that; but I think it is something that is done in jewelry. Under a magnifier, it looks like melted casting metal, like solder.

3. I don't recall seeing exploded views, but I did have some manuals that described the camera. It is very very basic, as you have now found. Be careful that some of the screws are tapped into very thin metal, and can easily strip.

4. the shutter tension adjustment also uses screws that are tapped into thin metal. You may need to adjust the shutter speed multiple times. Be careful of stripping the threads.

I think it is hard to get an original condition 1A, but in my estimation, the 1A is not worth anything if it is not original condition.

Best of luck

....Vick