Leica LTM Mystery of the center screw

Leica M39 screw mount bodies/lenses
Saganich

Saganich

Established
Local time
6:42 PM
Joined
Aug 2, 2007
Messages
183
Well as a curious observation while locked down I noticed that some II's seem to have the center top screw in one of two positions. One position is under the lens mount ring centered on the RF window so all three screws are evenly spaced, while on other II's the center screw is off to the left (facing front) of the RF window not under the lens mount ring. The first situation seems to be associated with earlier housings, while the second seems to be associated with housings after 1932. Then there are some with both screws, 1931 conversions and 1932 II's. :bang: I finally found a use for this emoji. Anyone have a less observational take on this difference?
 
FWIW and to add to the mystery; my 1926 Leica has just four screws holding on the top plate. One in the middle, back and front, and one at each end on the curve. You can just see one end screw if you look very carefully and believe:-

Leica%201926.jpg


As for the positioning, the top of the focusing scale is flat and they could be in the middle but would have been moved over when it changed to round.

Old stock might have been used up before the change took place.

Regards, David
 
The screws at the extremities of the top plate must be short, if they are too long, they can disturb the film transport mechanism (the right one seen from front the most). Therefore Leitz added two more screws, one on the front and one on the back of the top plate and removed the screws on the extremeties. Since then the top plates are fixed with six screws instead of with four.


Erik.
 
Erik van Straten said:
You guys are no real Leica fans.


Erik.
Click to expand...

I quite agree! We veterans of the Contax I ribbon thread know how to identify a mysterious manufacturing oddity and thrash the living daylights out of it for week after week!

Now...can someone pluck up the courage to tell David that he has his rangefinder in a sort of selfie mode?
 
I was able to get my Lager book from my office and sure enough you can see the change corresponds with the transition to the standardized lens mount in 1931. Looks like C bodies were converted to standardized lens mount and then into II's, while the 111 (F) bodies dominated by mid 1933. That was a pretty big transition and they sold a lot of II's in 1932.
 
Dralowid said:
...Now...can someone pluck up the courage to tell David that he has his rangefinder in a sort of selfie mode?
Click to expand...

I know, I know but no one has pointed it out and I couldn't be bothered to replace it as no one seemed to care...

Regards, David

PS and I'll try and show the end screw.
 
I must look, I certainly used to have a camera with two screws but it was very much a melange although I had originally hoped it was a Mortimer Street Special. It may have been that or another.

David, I apologise.

Michael
 
David Hughes said:
What for?

I've sort of replaced it but it was a pita trying to get both screws appearing.

Regards, David


PS And I've remembered why I leave the filter on it; it is very, very easy to cross thread...
Click to expand...

I'd probably get a bit grumpy if someone picked holes in a pic that I had taken time and trouble to post...maybe...or maybe not anymore!
 
Dralowid said:
I quite agree! We veterans of the Contax I ribbon thread know how to identify a mysterious manufacturing oddity and thrash the living daylights out of it for week after week!

Now...can someone pluck up the courage to tell David that he has his rangefinder in a sort of selfie mode?
Click to expand...
How is the RF in "selfie mode?"
Curious.
Phil Forrest
 
Dralowid said:
I'd probably get a bit grumpy if someone picked holes in a pic that I had taken time and trouble to post...maybe...or maybe not anymore!
Click to expand...

I dunno about trouble; the camera is on a tea tray on a chair by a window but out of the direct sunlight. I took an exposure reading, dropped it by a stop and clicked. I have now put a note by the camera about never taking the filter off because it is such a PITA to replace.

Regards, David
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom