Recovering Leica Standard

[JohnTF]

I have a Standard that is in excellent shape, but the leather is half gone, (half there?) I have checked CameraLeather, and they offer a new set of leather.

I know the leather is paper thin on these older cameras, have you guys any hints on the best approach to fixing this ugly situation? How close a match, texture and thickness, is the CameraLeather product?

I know, there are no scruffy Leicas, just more experienced ones. (quote stolen from Max) , but I would not post a shot of this one, I just could not leave it in the shop as it is mechanically good and the paint is 95%.

My friend Jorge recovered his M3 with a kit from these guys, and was very happy, I am reasonably good mechanically, but am a bit cautious as well, having my share of slips, and have had a repairmen drop a perfect black II.

Anyone here try the "alcohol based hand cleaner" approach mentioned on the site?


Regards, John

 

[Nokton48]

I just recovered my M5 with a kit from Cameraleather. I took pictures of the progress:

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=61437

The M5 skin is vulcanite rubber, and was difficult to remove. I used the paint stripper, and the wet method to apply the new skin. Looks great. Go for it.

 

[JohnTF]

Thanks, glad to hear the "wet process" works. They seem to be rather reasonable on their prices, so if I do not like the materials, I just do not have to put them on. I have talked to a number of Leica dealers, and none seem to know much about the early materials, it seems to be almost paper thin.

I see you are a buckeye, head up to the show in Sept., shows are getting few and far between, at least this one has a good breakfast and bar on premises. The members of this organization are definately getting up there, seems more of them each year get a table and clear out their stuff. I probably should do the same. Last show I bought a book of tintypes, I think my picture was in the book. ;-)

Stu came from my neighborhood, assume you get over there.

Thanks again, will check the site. John

 

[LeicaTom]

I would leave the ORIGINAL vulcanite covering on it.....recovering such an older camera takes the value down greatly, there`s no correct replacement covering for vintage Leica`s on the market cept that Vulcanite covering that Luton does in England.....

Tom

 

[thomasw_]

Are you going to keep the standard for a collection or not? If your purpose is to use and not fuss over the value of the standard years from now -- that is, view it as an investment -- then I would do as you please and get the covering that suits your fancy. cameraleather has many options; if I were in your shoes, I would write Morgan and ask him which coverings are the ones closest in thickness to the original.

 

[Nokton48]

The Charcoal Griptac would not be bad on your Standard, assuming you want to use it. Handling is wonderful with the Griptac, it's not -that- far off from Vulcanite. Twenty years ago, I worked for Stuey, when I was going through Ohio State. He usually gives me a squeeze, when he sees me in the store. Then, he wants me to answer the phones! I always refuse. Maybe I'll see you at the show. I didn't go last year, but was there two years ago. Served for a year as V.P. Good Luck with your Standard. I wouldn't be intimidated by the work, you can do it! Or let Morgan do it, he's a great guy to know.

-Dan

 

[raid]

My Standard has had the finder removed and replaced by a second accessory shoe. I would leave the leather as is. The camera is too old to be tampered with. However, this is a personal opinion only.

 

[JohnTF]

The Charcoal Griptac would not be bad on your Standard, assuming you want to use it. Handling is wonderful with the Griptac, it's not -that- far off from Vulcanite. Twenty years ago, I worked for Stuey, when I was going through Ohio State. He usually gives me a squeeze, when he sees me in the store. Then, he wants me to answer the phones! I always refuse. Maybe I'll see you at the show. I didn't go last year, but was there two years ago. Served for a year as V.P. Good Luck with your Standard. I wouldn't be intimidated by the work, you can do it! Or let Morgan do it, he's a great guy to know.

-Dan

Stu used to come to the shows to fill up his cases, and I know he does not like to answer phones. ;-) I have not seen him on the last few trips, Igor is met with open arms, he has access to markets they do not have time for.

They had a "fire" sale last year and just blew out a lot of used gear. I had some problem with an item I bought, and they just took my word for it and replaced it, that counts for a lot. I used to buy cameras for students.

When Stu found out where I lived, he took me down memory lane quickly.

People walk in with lots of old stuff all the time, and last time I was there they just were not buying. Real store, with lots of odds and ends. I think he had an entire collection of used Graflex parts for a long time.

Assume you know Art Smock as well, good friend, interesting guy with LF bits and pieces.

Hope to see you, Igor will be near the door, and I will probably wander in a bit late, I work all day Saturday Fall semester and like to sleep on Sunday, or any day that ends in Y. You know much of the trading happens before the show, am guessing you know everyone then. Al was at the last show, but I missed him.

Regards, John

 

[JohnTF]

My Standard has had the finder removed and replaced by a second accessory shoe. I would leave the leather as is. The camera is too old to be tampered with. However, this is a personal opinion only.

Thanks, I agree, I would normally try to preserve patina, and minor or brassing due to normal wear is acceptable, but more than half of the leather has just fallen off, and 90% of the rest is hardly hanging on, with the metal and swirl marks from the original glue showing.

I do not like to do any restoration that cannot be reversed, but I think the removal of the rest of the leather might take a fingernail and five minutes. There is no vulcanite as on later models.

The paint is OK, but the metal and loose pieces of leather make it hard to even pick up the camera, I do not think a museum is in its future.

The standard is certainly a compact user, and the finder is as simple as it gets.

Most of my other Leicas get a wipe and storage out of the cases as it seems the cases either absorb moisture, or weep chemicals from the tanning process. Al Banones used to recommend a shoe box as the box absorbed moisture, but I would think a well aired drawer, or perhaps a low wattage heating element, "goldenrod", might be a good idea. We do not get the year around high humidity.

I know most antique people do not want to put anything on old materials, but is there a recommended treatment for old Leica Leather?

Vulcanite I leave alone, but oddly, I found a nice M2 for my friend Jorge, and soon after he got the camera bits began to crack and fall off.

Perhaps I should have posted a snap, but it might be cruel to publicize the condition. ;-)

I have another with a split in the leather, and am trying to figure how to stabilize that one as it too shows the looseness, though the leather is complete.

Regards, John

 

[JohnTF]

I would leave the ORIGINAL vulcanite covering on it.....recovering such an older camera takes the value down greatly, there`s no correct replacement covering for vintage Leica`s on the market cept that Vulcanite covering that Luton does in England.....

Tom

Tom, not much to leave, and the leather is very loose, you can hardly pick the camera up without breaking a piece off. Gravity may take the rest soon. I have kept it like this for a few years, maybe I wil get around to posting a snap. As is, the lens is probably worth more than the body. ;-)

Regards, John