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Leica M39 screw mount bodies/lenses
Hi Michael,


It is the same II that I have for quite some time now. It started life as a standard in 1936. The serial nr. is 185800. I like it because there is no synch.


I show the camera again just to show how nice my new black/chrome SCNOO is.


I share your opinion on the post-war housing.


Erik.
 
The smaller 1-20 dial superseedes the earlier larger one.

The larger one is usually only seen on II cameras with the so called 'lavatory bowl' shape moudling beneath...and on old Is of course.

I think you will find that later IIs had the small dial direct from the factory since it was used in all production cameras by then.

I wouldn't hazard a guess at the date of your conversion without seeing more.

Michael
 
Hi Erik,

Apologies if I appear mysterious, it was not my intention.

From the cameras that I have seen, the chrome finish on the latest, like a IIIg or late IIIf, is slightly 'frostier' and has a sharper grain than earlier cameras. Nothing to do with wear. The shutter release and rewind lever on your camera have this finish, it is a bit like an M. Also the shutter release collar and the button, although of course of the correct pattern (for the period), have a sharper outline or profile.

Erik, to be honest, I may be talking complete and absolute rubbish. But I sent a black III back to Leica in Mortimer Street in the 1960s when the button fell off. They replaced it free of charge with one exactly the same as that on your camera. I only recently changed it for something more appropriate.

As you know, many of the smaller components change subtly over the years as does the finish. Prewar chrome is different from wartime and early postwar chrome (which deteriorates). Later chrome has a slightly different grain, colour and finish.

I won't be upset if you or anyone else tells me that my observations are trash but I would be happy if someone agreed. I can't reallyoffer to illustrate the point since I have now sold off all my chrome cameras (apart from trusty M6) and no longer have examples to prove the point.

Best

Michael
 
Hi Michael,

No, your observations are no trash at all. I strongly agree with you about the chrome. It is a very interesting phenomenon.

It could be that my conversion is from the 1960s. I never found out when Leitz actually stopped with their conversion line. Must be at the same time when the IIIg went out of production, but I am not sure of that.

The only chrome cameras I have are an M3 and a IIIg. Wish I could afford to buy black examples of those.

All the best,

Erik.
 
leica.jpg
 
Gordon Coale said:
A very pretty lens! I was hoping you would see your old lens on it's new home. It took a while but the wait was worth it.
Click to expand...

Gordon, are you sure this is a 1935 camera? It looks like the knobs are all nickel and I always thought Leica replaced nickel with chrome around 1932/1933. I can't read the number well; if it's six figures starting with 17.. (as it looks like) it would indeed be a 1935 camera and it would mean that Leica continued making Leica I bodies in black/nickel years after they started using chrome for the Leica II and III models.
 
Pocket watches and Leica IIIg. Watches (Illinois Watch Co left and Hamilton right) used to belong to my both grandfathers. Their uncles bought them with hard earned money, when working in mining and forest industries of USA and Canada, begin of 1900's. Unlike many European immigrants, these guys returned to back their homes with money earned, and new watches.
Heliar 50/3.5 lens I bought from New York, ~100 years later than the watches were bought 🙂


Old stuff by Jarno Nevala, on Flickr
 
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After many years of effortless searching, I finally became a Weisu. The Weisu is an optical viewfinder for the Leica when using a 35mm lens. It was introduced in 1933, but did not sell well. Most people choose for Visor or Vidom viewfinders, which, however, produced laterally reversed images.
The Weisu resembles the CV Minifinder, but has the advantage of not being provided with the confusing double framelines (28 and 35mm).
What a beautiful piece the Weisu is.

Leitz did not make a leather cover for the Weisu, but delivered the finder in a cute linen-covered box.

The lettering is not executed in Woods Metal, but is finely engraved and filled with white paint.
The art-nouveau silhouette makes it the most elegant finder I know.

Erik.
 
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Erik van Straten said:
After many years of effortless searching, I finally became a Weisu. The Weisu is an optical viewfinder for the Leica when using a 35mm lens. It was introduced in 1933, but did not sell well. Most people choose for Visor or Vidom viewfinders, wich, however, produced laterally reversed images.
Click to expand...

interesting information and nice finder. I have VIDOM, but as mentioned, it behaves somewhat illogically, if not used constantly and thus get used to.
 
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