Mystery of the center screw

[Saganich]

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?

 

[David Hughes]

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:-

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

 

[Erik van Straten]

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.

 

[Out to Lunch]

Kept me awake for years on end.

 

[Shac]

Kept me awake for years on end.

Woule me too😀

 

[Erik van Straten]

You guys are no real Leica fans.


Erik.

 

[Dralowid]

You guys are no real Leica fans.


Erik.

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?

 

[Saganich]

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.

 

[Erik van Straten]

Then there are some with both screws, 1931 conversions and 1932 II's.

My II, No 74510, has both screws. So the camera has 7 (seven!) screws to keep the top plate connected to the body shell.


Erik.

 

[Shac]

You guys are no real Leica fans.


Erik.

Erik - your kidding me - my 3 M's, and 3 LTMs don't qualify me even as a begiining fan? 😉

 

[Erik van Straten]

Erik - your kidding me - my 3 M's, and 3 LTMs don't qualify me even as a begiining fan? 😉

Surely I'm joking; why else are you here on RFf?


Erik.

 

[David Hughes]

...Now...can someone pluck up the courage to tell David that he has his rangefinder in a sort of selfie mode?

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.

 

[Dralowid]

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

 

[Shac]

Surely I'm joking; why else are you here on RFf?


Erik.

Actually I did get it Erik - hence my reply.

By the way I'll take this opportunity to thank you for the inspiration and useful info you post
Cheers
David

 

[David Hughes]

...David, I apologise.

Michael

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...

 

[Dralowid]

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...

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!

 

[Phil_F_NM]

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?

How is the RF in "selfie mode?"
Curious.
Phil Forrest

 

[raydm6]

How is the RF in "selfie mode?"
Curious.
Phil Forrest

Is the vertical rangefinder "stick" backwards? Or is that the correct orientation?

 

[David Hughes]

Surely I'm joking; why else are you here on RFf?

Erik.

So people take RFF seriously? That explains a lot...

Regards, David

 

[David Hughes]

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!

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