Who restores Vintage Leica Cases?

[LeicaTom]

Hello Folks!

I just accquired a seemingly rare 1940`s "wartime" Leica IIIC "Flatnose" Everyready case in Grey Paint ** (for IIIC K Grey and 50 Elmar) and the back of the case needs stitching repairs.

(I don`t have the case yet, but it also looks like something is embossed on the top of the case, so it could be a Luftwaffen Eigenturm case?) - But not all Grey Painted cases were made for the Military.

I also have another uncommon "wartime" Black Leather ER case that`s needing assistance.

Anyone out there who knows anyone who can do some professional case repairs? Stitching, leather dying and or Painting?

Soon I will be posting a Thread on the various issued leather Everyready cases for the IIIC 1940 to 1945 (stay tuned)

Thanks

Tom

**Leitz PAINTED Black Everyready cases RLM Luftwaffe Grey during the war to be issued into service for the Military and Civilian issued IIIC`s from about 1943 to wars end in 1945. (they were NOT Grey leather!) Just FYI 😉

 

[Paul T.]

Might be worth trying a saddler - that's who I got to do my early Kiev case. Or a very good shoe repairer.

 

[rkwheeldon]

I spoke to Leica UK about a case repair and they gave me this persons details:
Reg Smith
63 Higher Compton Road
PLYMOUTH Pl3 5JA.
UK.
Tel 01752 773790.
I spoke to him and he seems very knowledgeable and friendly.

 

[LeicaTom]

Hmm well, thanks for the tips 🙂 The UK one might be helpful for my WW2 Leica friend`s in England, thank you!

We have like one of the most famous shoemakers in all the Southeasten US here in Lakeland, he`s like a award winning shoe cobbler, so I should give him a call, it never dawned on me that maybe he could restore my Leica cases, wow, good idea!

I`d trying to figure out just how Leitz did the Grey paint cases, while the case above has arrived yet here in a mail and the other Grey case I have is like got only 5% of it`s Grey paint left on the case, so hopefully the new case will be in better condition and I can study how the company spray painted the cases.....

Tom

 

[John Shriver]

Looks like an amateur re-sewing job was already done on the top seam there, and it's failed again. Note how the holes on the sides are badly split open.

I've re-done a top seam myself, and a few noses. I use a sewing machine needle mounted in a pin vise as a sewing awl. Tedious but straightforward, simulating a machine stitch.

The embossing looks to me like a paint pull from removing a Dymo embossing tape.

 

[LeicaTom]

Looks like an amateur re-sewing job was already done on the top seam there, and it's failed again. Note how the holes on the sides are badly split open.

I've re-done a top seam myself, and a few noses. I use a sewing machine needle mounted in a pin vise as a sewing awl. Tedious but straightforward, simulating a machine stitch.

The embossing looks to me like a paint pull from removing a Dymo embossing tape.

Very Good advice John Thank You!

I don`t have the case yet, (I expect it next week in the post) ~ I want to clean it up make it a bit more presentable and offer it for trade first.

I want a patina`ed Summitar nosed Grey case for my 43' ~ the Elmar nosed one`s are somewhat rarer, but as fate would have it, my Grey camera`s got an original Summitar lens issued with it and it would look even nicer in a Grey case.....

Actually my camera being an early 43' may have had a Black Case, (it also looks really sharp in a Black Case and I have a few of them now) ~ there`s no real cut off date for the Black to Grey cases known, I know that Military camera`s after 1942 well had both.

I`ve seen 1944 issued W.H. (Army) cameras even with BROWN cases, as it was always at Leitz after early 1940, it was "let`s use whatever`s here on the shelf this week" for production rules.....

Tom

 

[LeicaTom]

Hello Folks!

I just accquired a seemingly rare 1940`s "wartime" Leica IIIC "Flatnose" Everyready case in Grey Paint ** (for IIIC K Grey and 50 Elmar) and the back of the case needs stitching repairs.

(I don`t have the case yet, but it also looks like something is embossed on the top of the case, so it could be a Luftwaffen Eigenturm case?) - But not all Grey Painted cases were made for the Military.

I also have another uncommon "wartime" Black Leather ER case that`s needing assistance.

Anyone out there who knows anyone who can do some professional case repairs? Stitching, leather dying and or Painting?

Soon I will be posting a Thread on the various issued leather Everyready cases for the IIIC 1940 to 1945 (stay tuned)

Thanks

Tom

**Leitz PAINTED Black Everyready cases RLM Luftwaffe Grey during the war to be issued into service for the Military and Civilian issued IIIC`s from about 1943 to wars end in 1945. (they were NOT Grey leather!) Just FYI 😉

I just received this case in the mail today and it`s way better then how it looked in the auction photos, I`m very impressed, I`m going to take it to my local shoe cobbler and see what he can do about the loose stiching and any repairs it might need. 🙂

Tom

 

[LeicaTom]

Here`s a quick look at the new accquired Grey Paint Case.......

It really looks way better than in the dark ebay photos, it still has about 90% of it`s original paint and other then some loose stitiching the most damage to the case is at the front on the "flat nose".

It`s a very interesting color, just a shade lighter than the Luftwaffe RLM Grey paint in the cameras, and the case is painted through and through, (so all parts were painted BEFORE they were sewn together.

I was considering putting this up for trade for a Summitar nose Grey case, but I`ve decided I`ll KEEP IT and try to find an original Elmar 50mm issued Grey paint IIIC or IIIC K camera to put into it 🙂

Tom

 

[John Shriver]

It's amazing the seller's photographs could be so far off in color! Sure does look a lot better.

Just be sure your leather worker is willing to restitch it by hand. I had a portfolio that I had restitched, and they did it by machine, and only some of the stiches went through the old holes. The top is a few hours work to sew by hand.

 

[LeicaTom]

It's amazing the seller's photographs could be so far off in color! Sure does look a lot better.

Just be sure your leather worker is willing to restitch it by hand. I had a portfolio that I had restitched, and they did it by machine, and only some of the stiches went through the old holes. The top is a few hours work to sew by hand.

Thanks John!

I`ll make sure that it`s all done by hand, I don`t want to do too much restoring on this case, I just have to figure out how to clean the paint on the leather, without removing any of it?

Tom

 

[mynikonf2]

What an interesting case. You sure have an eye for finding the rare and obscure item. Do you think the scaring on the nose was deliberate? It sure looks like it.

I wouldn't use anything on it, other than a mild solution of dish soap and water. Anything stronger like leather cleaner or saddle soap would start to remove the paint! I'd dry it with a soft cloth immediately after cleaning. I'm not sure if mink oil would help any on a painted leather surface.

Anyway, I'd really like to see the collection of IIIc stepper leather cases. It would really help in discerning through the myriad of leather cases out there.

 

[Dralowid]

There is, in the EU, a product called 'Ca Va Seul', sold by Reckitt and Bensiker. It came top of the list of all leathercare products tested by an association of European classic ar clubs. It softens and mositurises leather without leaving a deposit or damaging stitching. I use it on both car upholstery and camera cases. Brings things back to life.

A word of warning. If you don't know already, a leather case is just about the worst thing for long term camera storage. It absorbs moisture etc etc

Michael

 

[LeicaTom]

There is, in the EU, a product called 'Ca Va Seul', sold by Reckitt and Bensiker. It came top of the list of all leathercare products tested by an association of European classic ar clubs. It softens and mositurises leather without leaving a deposit or damaging stitching. I use it on both car upholstery and camera cases. Brings things back to life.

A word of warning. If you don't know already, a leather case is just about the worst thing for long term camera storage. It absorbs moisture etc etc

Michael

Something like that might work on the Brown ER Cases, but the Black and Grey cases are painted, so anything chemical, might take off the finish?

It might just be square one, with warm soapy water and a soft cloth?

I`ll keep people informed.....

Tom

 

[David Hughes]

Antique books are often half or quarter bound with leather and librarians (in posh old established libraries) can probably suggest the stuff needed to sort out the leather. I just wish I could remember the name of it.

If into DIY stitching then look for white linen thread and a glover's needle (used by glove makers years ago). A craft store might help. I've restitched a couple of cases; slow but steady is the best advice I can offer and re-use the existing holes. If need be find the exit point from the other side with another needle.

Regards, David