Who made this?

[petronius]

On my "new" IIIc a little weird socket is mounted.
Can anyone enlighten me about the purpose (I presume flash connection) and the maker (probably not Leitz?!)

According to the seller the camera was made 1949.

Thank you!

 

[xayraa33]

On my "new" IIIc a little weird socket is mounted.
Can anyone enlighten me about the purpose (I presume flash connection) and the maker (probably not Leitz?!)

According to the seller the camera was made 1949.

Thank you!

There were plenty of odd-ball camera tech flash sync additions to non sync cameras in the early 1950s, some cobbled up from scratch.

The pre war Contax II and III had plenty of home-made looking flash sync additions, as these were favoured by news reporters/photojournalists over the post War Contax models for their sync shutter speed time with flash bulbs. ( I remember this from a 1950s photo magazine article), {Pop Photo or Modern Photo, i forgot which. }

 

[David Hughes]

There were plenty of odd-ball camera tech flash sync additions to non sync cameras in the early 1950s, some cobbled up from scratch.

The pre war Contax II and III had plenty of home-made looking flash sync additions, as these were favoured by news reporters/photojournalists over the post War Contax models for their sync shutter speed time with flash bulbs. ( I remember this from a 1950s photo magazine article), {Pop Photo or Modern Photo, i forgot which. }

Hi,

The male plug looks as though it would match the female socket on a lot of flash guns, including those by Leitz, that were around at that time.

Regards, David

 

[lxmike]

I would say your assumptions are right, definitely flash related but not sure of the maker

 

[Timmyjoe]

There were also lots of camera shops back in the day, each with someone who "worked on cameras". Looks very much like a DIY job from a small shop. By the mid-50's, you could have had Leica do a IIIf conversion to your IIIc which would add the flash option.

Best,
-Tim

 

[petronius]

Thank you all.

Fortunately I found, that all parts are removable (screws) so I have a Leica with some small holes now.

 

[charjohncarter]

Somewhat strange position, it could block some finders from the cold shoe.

 

[Dralowid]

There are all sorts of flash attachments made by local or favoured camera repair men of the time. Some are quite well done, others less so. This one is unusually intrusive but effective syncronisation is what was wanted then and the job was not too difficult.

Pleased you have removed it, you could always claim that the holes were made by the rare camera boring beetle (Coleoptera Barnackienis).

 

[xayraa33]

There are all sorts of flash attachments made by local or favoured camera repair men of the time. Some are quite well done, others less so. This one is unusually intrusive but effective syncronisation is what was wanted then and the job was not too difficult.

Pleased you have removed it, you could always claim that the holes were made by the rare camera boring beetle (Coleoptera Barnackienis).

A lot of us with GAS must have had that Coleoptera Barnackienis thing tunnel through our skull while we slept near those smelly ever-ready camera cases 😀

 

[David Hughes]

Somewhat strange position, it could block some finders from the cold shoe.

Hi,

OTOH, it doesn't poke you in the eye; unlike some I could mention but, being my usual polite self, I won't...

Regards, David

 

[petronius]

My main concern was the carrying in a coat pocket, which is my favourite way to carry a camera of this size. But this problem is gone now.

 

[cz23]

Congrats on the new camera, petronious. What lens are you planning to use?

John

 

[petronius]

Thank you, John. I own the classic LTM combo Summaron 3,5cm/3,5, Elmar 5cm/3,5 and Elmar 9cm/4, all from ca.1960.
Mostly it will be the 5cm Elmar and sometimes the Jupiter-8.