weird shutter speed dial on IIIa

[jbielikowski]

hello folks, I recently bought a nice IIIa, looks pretty normal except the shutter speed dial. I tried to find a similar one on the web but without success. Not that I want to know if it's rare or something, but if you have any idea about it please share it, I'm curious.

 

[Sumarongi]

hello folks, I recently bought a nice IIIa, looks pretty normal except the shutter speed dial. I tried to find a similar one on the web but without success. Not that I want to know if it's rare or something, but if you have any idea about it please share it, I'm curious.

I've seen similar things before...
Is it possible that the modification in question helps you to see what the chosen shutter speed is although the shutter is not cocked?

 

[Mr_Flibble]

I'm guessing it's part of a flash-sychronisation accessory, like a Leitz VACU.

 

[jbielikowski]

I've seen similar things before...
Is it possible that the modification in question helps you to see what the chosen shutter speed is although the shutter is not cocked?

Without shutter cocked I still can't guess what speed is set, but maybe it needs a more clever operator than me.

I'm guessing it's part of a flash-sychronisation accessory, like a Leitz VACU.

That was the first thing I found, but pictures on the web look quite different.

 

[Mr_Flibble]

Definitely not for the Geiss or Hakosyn. But it's certainly looks like it's designed to prevent anything that's clamped-on from slipping or rotating.

I considered it might've been for a linked light-meter, like the MC for the Leica M cameras. But that would be kinda strange as you can't lift up the dial to set the wanted speed.

 

[xayraa33]

Cammed or high speed dials with lobes always generally means that some optional flash sync accessory was attached on the camera at one time.

 

[Timmyjoe]

Not to hijack the thread, but while we're on the topic of weird shutter speed dials on Barnacks, can anyone tell me what's going on with these triangulated shutter speed dials? I've seen these on multiple different Leica Barnack cameras over the years, usually ones made in the 1920's and 1930's.

Thanks.

Best,
-Tim

 

[Dralowid]

Tim, That has been modified (filed down) for flash, the cams would hit a contact on the side of a little accessory shoe gadget with a flash plug on it.

The OP's dial is something else...I don't think it is a flash modification, I think it comes from a different camera. Someone else with a collection of Leica copies can check...I think I have seen one before...on something!