Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2004/11/14
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Dan, I have a Leica IIIa with a similar modification. The modifications were done by Leica/New York to synchronize earlier cameras with flashbulbs and electronic flash. I bought mine in 1952 and it was already modified at that time. There were two separate models, one for flashbulbs and another for electronic flash. Mine is for bulbs, and the slide allowed a timing adjustment to match the shutter-open-time to the plateau of the illumination curve for the bulb in use. It worked primarily at 1/20th of a second. I used it successfully with Sylvania Press 40 and GE #11 bulbs, which gave more light than the smaller focal plane bulbs. Somewhere, I have the instruction booklet that gives the slide settings and shutter speeds that are useful with the flashbulbs of that era. In the modification process, a slot was milled in the disk on the bottom of the shutter speed adjustment shaft, the disk which rotates when the shutter is tripped. The baseplate had a small pin that engaged this slot. ( I'm not sure that the baseplate could be used on another camera, because each one was matched and the serial number recorded on the baseplate.) This arrangement connected the synch action to the shutter. If I recall correctly, the baseplate could only be installed when the shutter had not been rewound, so that the spring-loaded pin mechanism could engage the slot. Otherwise, if the base was forced on with the shutter rewound, the mechanism could be damaged. Since the useful bulbs are no longer available, the whole arrangement is more of a curiosity than a useful gadget. I bought a regular baseplate years ago and use the camera as a regular Leica. Jim Nichols nicholsj@edge.net > [Original Message] > From: Dan Colucci <colucci@thehearth.org> > To: Leica Users Group <lug@leica-users.org> > Date: 11/14/2004 4:12:58 PM > Subject: RE: [Leica] kyle's taking portraits ... > > I got this Leica IIIC with an attachment on the bottom...I cant tell what it is .... Some kind of flash sync-ing device ? There is a sliding metal switch on the side...but it doesnt seem to do anything....the job seems professionally done and inside the body's serial number is stamped..... ? > > http://members.aol.com/dcolucci/l1.jpg > http://members.aol.com/dcolucci/l2.jpg > http://members.aol.com/dcolucci/l3.jpg > http://members.aol.com/dcolucci/l4.jpg > http://members.aol.com/dcolucci/l5.jpg > http://members.aol.com/dcolucci/l6.jpg