Leica LTM Leica Screw Mount Conversions - Show Yours

Leica M39 screw mount bodies/lenses
The easy way is to check the serial number in a reference book. In this case it was a Leica I (model A in the US).
Very nice duo, congratulations. I love your FLQOO shade. Does that have the lettering engraving filled with white paint or with Woods metal?
A good repairman can remove the added synch if you don't like it.
Did you identify your VISOR-type viewfinder? What frames does it have?

Erik.
 
Thanks - that's a great help! I've looked up the serial number in the charts before but from what I was using I was never able to identify which version of the '1' it was!

The engraving on the FLQOO is very fine - doesn't look very bright white - more of a 'silvery' white. Would that be woods metal?

I got lucky with the VISOR finder a few years back - it has the 3.5, 5 and 13.5 engraving with no foot adjustment. As a 'user' the image is very clear without haze - due to the more compact size, I far prefer this to the VIDOM or VIOOH. The 'holder' on top has a the top edge missing - you can see if you look closely at the pic...so this isn't one for the 'collectors'!...hence I got it pretty cheap!

The synch isn't the prettiest, but I can live with it! I think this was converted first to a 2 and then the 3 - it has the yellow tinted window (which I think was only ever on the 2?). The upgrade to the 3 also didn't feature the strap lugs in this case..

It's not the prettiest camera in the world...but it works great and is used on a daily basis!
 
Woods metal is the same you see on the top of your camera. It has a sort of "relief", it is a tiny bit "higher" than the black paint surface. How it is done, is a mystery to me and to many others too.
If your FLQOO has Woods metal, it is pretty rare. Any black FLQOO is rare, by the way.
Your VISOR is indeed a VISOR. Is the knob at the back that you use for switching from vertical to horizontal (and vice versa) completely knurled or only partial? The partial knurled ones are earlier.

Good luck!

Erik.
 
Looking at it again I don't think it is Woods Metal...The VISOR is completely knurled..

It's taken me a few years to put this set together..and for me it's the best set I've had!
 
Just arrived: a very nice chrome IIIa Syn with 50mm Elmar. The camera is a factory upgrade of a 1933 III, one of the first batch of chrome cameras. The upgrade involved the adapted view/rangefinder housing, the IIIf speed selector knob with flash synchronizer and flash connector and the later vulcanite and flash bracket lug on the body. In fact I think the whole body and bottom plate were also upgraded and only the top plate is original 1933 as it is in a slightly brighter chrome than the bottom plate and viewfinder housing. The Elmar is the contemporary (1933) chrome lens, still with the early 50mm indication instead of the later 5cm. Uncoated and pretty clean. I'll post photos later.
 
Thanks Michael and Erik. No, the dioptre adjustment is just as on the original III, no extra chrome or glossy rim. What you see is the shine of the inner rim caused by light reflection, I guess. The adjustment itself is probably from the original rangefinder housing. It is not the same chrome as the housing or the ring around the viewfinder.

I assume the Capi sign is from the original III too and reglued onto the new shell during the conversion. The early cameras had these logos of the Dutch Leica importer inserted into the vulcanite. A hole was made in the vulcanite into which these decals were glued, or they were heated and pushed into the molten vulcanite. I've had a 1932 II with a decal from Capi Nijmegen and recently saw one on a I (A) which read Capi Groningen. In my IIIasyn the decal is glued onto the vulcanite, I guess. At least it sits higher than on the earlier ones. I like it, it's proof of the camera being originally Dutch and I now regret selling the II with the Capi sign to Frank in the US 😱
 
BTW, this may be interesting to Dutch members. The name CAPI stems from the name of the founder of a series of photography shops in Den Haag, Groningen, Nijmegen and Amsterdam. Later this became CAPI-Lux. The owner/founder was Mr. C.A.P. Ivens. The famous Dutch cinomatographer Joris Ivens is one of his sons.
 
Ron (Netherlands) said:
Ja Huub, inderdaad een hele mooie versie (zag ik deze laatst ook niet op marktplaats?)
fijne feestdagen!
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klopt! hij was aan de prijs, maar ziet er dan ook prachtig uit. hij was duidelijk al een aantal jaren niet gebruikt, maar met een voorzichtige massage begint alles weer wat soepeler te lopen. alleen de langzame tijden lopen nog niet allemaal af. misschien toch een claatje nodig. Erik, als je dit leest, kun je me dan de contactgegevens van dhr Scherpenborg pm-en?
 
Leica II No.74510, Elmar 50mm f/3.5 prewar coated (post war conversion), Tmax400.

My bike, 2012.

Erik.

8342897938_82ec73700b_b.jpg
 
Dralowid said:
Magnificent absence of any visible brakes...I guess it is back pedal rear brakes only?
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That is on Dutch bikes quite normal. The bike itself is a conversion, because the frame is over 25 years old. All the things that are attached to it have been changed since then at least four times. The mudguards are new.

Erik.
 
Getting a bit off-topic here, but I promise I will post a shot of my bicycle to the 'bikes discriminating RFF-ers use' thread from my original Dutch Phoenix cargo bike, built 1961. It's my daily means of transportation and still does the job fine.

Interesting to read that mr. Scherpenborg still has lots of original 1930's parts in stock. Good to know, should I ever end up needing any of them.
 
I know it is impolite to talk about money....but...

I've been selling ltm Leicas, five in the last month have funded computer gear and helped to pay marina fees...I will need to sell more but I have a question.

Do you expect to see the more interesting factory conversions fetching higher prices than the equivalent unconverted cameras? By interesting I mean things like black II or IIIa, IIIa syn and others, mostly postwar, some of you will remember what I have shown in this thread.

A couple of people I have spoken to say no. Others yes. What is your opinion?

Michael
(I am always amazed at the prices people pay for horrible old Summars...but very happy too!)
 
Dear Michael,

unfortunately I do not think so.

Most people wouldn't recognize a conversion that is noteworthy if it bit them, most people look at usability mainly.

Apart from us here there aren't too many folks collecting conversions it seems...


Still, if you would have a black IIIa-syn, I might be persuaded... :angel:
 
Dralowid said:
Still, if you would have a black IIIa-syn, I might be persuaded... :angel:
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Note yet mate, I'm not quite dead...!
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Michael,

I wish you many years in good health to come, in which you can enjoy those nice camera's or yours!

Recently I sold/traded my Summilux 35mm and in the trade I got a real nice chrome Leica II from 1942, so currently am content with the pair of Leica II's I own and do not wish for anything else!
 
Thanks Johann,

Well I have now retired and in the last few months have sold seven black ltm cameras and their lenses. I feel no bad side effects or sense of loss! Liberation indeed! Now I have a new i-mac (that won't run Epson Scan...Bah!), I've paid the mooring fees for the boat and bought half a holiday.

Mind you, if someone came along and offered me a nice black II with a III rangefinder and the yellow 'filter' I might just be tempted.

Michael
 
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