Leica.III bottom plate

[reagan]

Just a nit-picking curiosity...

I happened to notice a couple of days ago that the bottom plates on my Leica.IIIs are different. The chrome model is pretty much like I would expect with "auf" & "zu", but the black model, a year older I believe, has "open-auf" & "close - zu" - English added.

Sooo...
Normal or no?
Not the original bottom plate on the Black model?
Original plate engraved in the States at later time?

I'm not a stickler about this camera, it's a beater and therefore, my favorite, but just curious what someone might know/think.

cheers ~

 

[FrankS]

Perhaps it was a US export model, therefore English added?

 

[reagan]

Perhaps it was a US export model, therefore English added?

I wondered that as well -- even though I got it from the FSU ... 😕 It may be quite a high-mileage little unit. Thanks Frank.

 

[Ash]

Mine has both.

 

[ZorkiKat]

The bilingual markings are normal. Definitely factory engraved. If you take a look at the loading diagrams found on the base of the shutter crate (or the baseplate in pre-IIIc cameras) the instructions are in 4 languages.

Jay

 

[reagan]

See? That's the very reason we pay Jay the big bucks. He's even read the inside of MY Leicas! ...all 4 languages! Thanks Jay - amazing I've never noticed that before.

My black Leica also has an extra "post" on the bottom, opposite end from where the bottom plate hooks. I assume this is for winding attachments. Not there on my year later white model III.

 

[ZorkiKat]

See? That's the very reason we pay Jay the big bucks. He's even read the inside of MY Leicas! ...all 4 languages! Thanks Jay - amazing I've never noticed that before.

My black Leica also has an extra "post" on the bottom, opposite end from where the bottom plate hooks. I assume this is for winding attachments. Not there on my year later white model III.

😀

Many things did attach themselves at the bottom of the Leica. Not only motors (clockwork), but also an early flash gun, among other things.

Jay

 

[reagan]

Many things did attach themselves at the bottom of the Leica. Not only motors (clockwork), but also an early flash gun, among other things.

Interesting. Got any pics or illustrations?

 

[Jocko]

My black Leica also has an extra "post" on the bottom, opposite end from where the bottom plate hooks. I assume this is for winding attachments. Not there on my year later white model III.

Mine has one of those little "extra" knobs too - Is it just me or does everyone spend many a happy half-hour trying to get the baseplate on the wrong way round?

I expect it's me! 🙂

Cheers, Ian

 

[Ash]

Ian, I found EXACTLY the same thing happened with me - I have a really obvious little metal bit for the baseplate to clip to, and I still find myself putting the baseplate backwards!

 

[reagan]

Is it just me or does everyone spend many a happy half-hour trying to get the baseplate on the wrong way round? I expect it's me! 🙂

Oh no, I've never done that... more than 3 or 4 times... or 6. 🙄