Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2000/10/10

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Subject: Re: [Leica] query re: unrepairable Leica Ms (R..)
From: John Collier <jbcollier@home.com>
Date: Tue, 10 Oct 2000 13:24:01 -0600

From my discussions with Kindermann Canada there are some parts that are no
longer available. Finders for the M3 are not available or repairable from
Leica. There are some people resilvering M finders but I cannot say how
successfully. All the other early finders can only be replaced (by Leica)
with a M4-P finder, this can be done with an M3 but it requires some
machining (read dollars). M4 and earlier hinged backs are no longer
available and are replaced with M4-2(P) backs. The shutters are also
replaced with new ones which are different (the subject of much LUG minutia)
but still fit in the older bodies. I understand that original parts for the
winding mechanism for the M2, MP, M1 and MD are getting a little thin on the
ground; and, of course, parts for the winding mechanism of the M2R are
extinct.* There are NOS vulcanite body shells about but for how long is a
good (moot for me as they are so expensive) question. Thankfully, Leica does
manufacture PVC replacement covers for its older cameras. I think that all
the M cameras will be repairable by some means or other long after the last
EOS-1V and F5 has fried its circuit boards.

John Collier

*If anyone has these parts, please call me first!

gear  1MP28
bushing  1MP31
take-up spool 1MP32
holding shaft  1MP33

I think I could make or use current M6 parts for the rest.

> From: chucko@siteconnect.com (Chuck Albertson)
> 
> Where did you hear this? I thought Leica had spares for all M models going
> back to the M3.
>