photovdz
Well-known
got it posted on another thread... but this one seems the oldest (see "just a very old one")
leica I Nr 1505 converted to III (Prewar conversion) and with a flash synch (that looks factory to me but pre IIIf... see the gear at the bottom of the camera)
works perfectly...
leica I Nr 1505 converted to III (Prewar conversion) and with a flash synch (that looks factory to me but pre IIIf... see the gear at the bottom of the camera)
works perfectly...
je2a3
je
ca. 1930 Leica I ---> II
Dralowid
Michael
To celebrate the return of this thread herewith a IIIc converted to the equivalent of a IIIf black dial with self timer. As you can see it shows the scars of a hard life. Vulcanite has a 'vertical' texture, shutter release collar is wrong.
One can only surmise that the owner at time of conversion was attached to this camera, I suspect it would have been quite an expensive conversion of what was, in Leica terms, a fairly new camera.
The Summarit is clear and results are excellent. The filter comes from a 65mm Elmar, the only other Leica lens that uses this size.
The camera is yet to be cleaned and sorted, sounds 'dry' but everything works after a fashion.
Michael
One can only surmise that the owner at time of conversion was attached to this camera, I suspect it would have been quite an expensive conversion of what was, in Leica terms, a fairly new camera.
The Summarit is clear and results are excellent. The filter comes from a 65mm Elmar, the only other Leica lens that uses this size.
The camera is yet to be cleaned and sorted, sounds 'dry' but everything works after a fashion.
Michael
Erik van Straten
Veteran
IIIa were not upgraded to IIIf, but to IIa-syn or IIIa-syn cameras. Conversion from IIIa to IIIc or IIIf was not possible, due to the fundamental differences between I, II, III, IIIa and IIIb cameras and IIIc and IIIf cameras.
Erik.
johannielscom
Snorting silver salts
Dank je, Erik!
So, it's a IIIa-syn now. So, is this a much-performed upgrade, or a rare one?
My camera currently is without coverings, the vulcanite came off and I'm considering the olive green leather a fellow member sent me as a gift. I will put an M4 film dial on the back, since I keep forgetting what speed film I loaded into my cameras if there's no reminder.
In the end the complete set will consist of the IIIa-syn with M4 dial, a 1951 Korean war Serenar 28/3.5, the 1943 CZJ 50/1.5 with aluminium lens hood, the SCNOO and the olive green leather strap Robert made me.
Sorry, bit OT.
Erik van Straten
Veteran
Not really rare. In the fifties flash was very popular, so many owners had their prewar Leicas upgraded. Black IIIa-syn cameras however are seldom seen.
Erik.
Dralowid
Michael
Here we have a Ia converted to Ic.
Both lens and camera converted. No infinity lock or s/n on lens. Camera 28xxx has small 'O' on lens flange. Note that lens flange and camera flange are not the same diameter. Shutter release collar is a bicycle part...
Camera came with the bunch of extras illustrated plus a lot of Leitz literature and brochures c 1929 plus details of owners, hotel receipts etc.
IMG_0122.jpg
Particularly scary is the the flash arrangement, quite whether I am brave enough to light the strip (phosphorus?) is another matter entirely.
The camera is covered in leather, an old job well done but I wonder when?
Michael
Both lens and camera converted. No infinity lock or s/n on lens. Camera 28xxx has small 'O' on lens flange. Note that lens flange and camera flange are not the same diameter. Shutter release collar is a bicycle part...
Camera came with the bunch of extras illustrated plus a lot of Leitz literature and brochures c 1929 plus details of owners, hotel receipts etc.
IMG_0122.jpg
Particularly scary is the the flash arrangement, quite whether I am brave enough to light the strip (phosphorus?) is another matter entirely.
The camera is covered in leather, an old job well done but I wonder when?
Michael
Dralowid
Michael
Sorry, I meant magnesium not phosphorous.
Michael
Michael
Dralowid
Michael
24650 is a Leica I converted post war to a Leica II without synchronisation but using the 'higher' top housing usually associated with synchronised conversions. Although I have posted this camera before it has just returned from a period of r & R at CRR with blinds and beamsplitter replaced. It now sports a coated nickel Summar since these appear to be all the rage this season!
However, it is a repaint from the '80s as mentioned on the George Carr thread and shows signs of paintstaking but presumably amateur work which really doesn't stand up to close scrutiny. Brushing cellulose I think.
Michael
(if the pic doesn't show, let me know)
Attachments
Ron (Netherlands)
Well-known
Ok here's mine, 1932 Leica II -> Leica IIa synch.
I especially like this cam since its piano paint really matches the Millenium and further since its a bp Leica II that has the ability of using flash.
But further of course these types are so nice since they raise quite some historic questions e.g.:
1. Did the postwar conversion of bp Leicas indeed included a change of the body shell and bottom-plate? It seems that the plate and shell differ from the original Leica II.
2. Was the conversion of a shutter with a top speed of 1/500 sec to a top speed of 1/1000 sec done by changing the shutter altogether - did they included ball bearings? - or was this part of the conversion done by simply tightening the springs and changing the shutterspeed dial?
3. My guess further is that all the knobs were also exchanged, since 1932 Leicas had nickel knobs and not chromium ones like this postwar factory conversion.
I especially like this cam since its piano paint really matches the Millenium and further since its a bp Leica II that has the ability of using flash.
But further of course these types are so nice since they raise quite some historic questions e.g.:
1. Did the postwar conversion of bp Leicas indeed included a change of the body shell and bottom-plate? It seems that the plate and shell differ from the original Leica II.
2. Was the conversion of a shutter with a top speed of 1/500 sec to a top speed of 1/1000 sec done by changing the shutter altogether - did they included ball bearings? - or was this part of the conversion done by simply tightening the springs and changing the shutterspeed dial?
3. My guess further is that all the knobs were also exchanged, since 1932 Leicas had nickel knobs and not chromium ones like this postwar factory conversion.
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greyelm
Malcolm
The conversion looks like IIf and the shell shows the blanking plate of a IIf on the front where the slow speed dial would be in the III series. The original II didn't have the blanking plate so it looks as if was a replacement at time of conversion.
Ron (Netherlands)
Well-known
As said before in this thread, there are no f conversions, but indeed it is a post WWII conversion probably done in the early 1950's and indeed it has a blanking plate (as the IIf did have) which was put on as part of a new shell, but again it is no f but a IIa.
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xayraa33
rangefinder user and fancier
The vf window frame looks the type that was on the later made Leica II, III, IIIa and IIIb.
Dralowid
Michael
This is a 'correct' postwar conversion including new shell with late vulcanite, extra lug and presumably bottom plate. No, no ball bearings but you will find more baffles than in an original II. To be correct it is not a IIf. It is a IIa sync (I think. Erik will correct me if I an wrong). Yes it was common practice to replace all nickel fittings but this is not always the case. Nice camera, nice lens. These things are going up in value at quite a rate.
Michael
Michael
Ron (Netherlands)
Well-known
Quite right! Part of the synchronisation conversion was changement of the topplate, as I understand Leica destoyed the original topplates. However the orginal serial number (as you might ascertain, this number comes from a genuine 1932 Leica II) was taken over to the new topplate.
Ron (Netherlands)
Well-known
Thanks Michael; so quite interesting: they changed the topplate, the shell, the bottomplate, all the fittings and knobs, and some innerparts: in fact these conversions made the camera almost completely new and different in comparison with its original.
That makes clear why especially a conversion of a black paint Leica was so expensive!
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Erik van Straten
Veteran
Ron (Netherlands) said:
The 1/1000 settings on these camera's is useless. It gives the same time as the 1/500 setting, wich is in itself unreliable. Only the speeds 1/60, 1/100 and 1/200 are reliable and, of course, 1/20 when using flash, the main reason of the existence of these cameras.
Personally I love these cameras when they are not fitted with a synch. They exist, but are very rare. Why would someone convert a camera to specifics it already has?
Erik.
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Dfin
Well-known
I thought that the later, ie post iiic body shells were cast alloy, longer and slightly thicker ? So were these early pre-war cameras fitted with new shells,top & bottom plates and how did Leitz go about fitting the rangefinder to the top plate ? Did they use new old stock ?
Ron (Netherlands)
Well-known
Why would someone convert a camera to specifics it already has?
The answer is, they didn't. Yours was originally a standard Leica from 1936. So your conversion is a very normal conversion, being a Leica standard to Leica II conversion, the conversion however seems to have been done after WWII, that explains your topplate. But therefore it is still an interesting and maybe unique conversion; anyhow its a beauty.
thanks for sharing Simon; - 2361 goes back to 1926! Interesting is also that the result of the conversion is very comparable to the one done to my camera, although they stem from completely different cameras.
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Erik van Straten
Veteran
Yes, after the war and after the introduction of the M3 (1954) hence the modern logo.
Strangely, earlier postwar conversions are almost unknown, but they do exist. They have a IIIc-like logo, very beautiful. Of course we only talk about black cameras, they are so much more beautiful than chrome ones.
Erik.