Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1997/12/24
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]At 03:19 PM 12/24/97 -0500, Marc Small writes: >The point? You don't really need to 'winterize' a Leica: the design was >made to accomodate the worst that a Russian winter could toss at it, and, >pace Garrison Keilor, even Minnesota looks mild by comparison. > >I DO have it on good authority that Robert Byrd, Amundsen, Admiral Byrd, >and Santa Claus never 'winterized' THEIR Leicas, so why should you? My understanding from one of my instructors at the Defense Information School (1966) is that the M Lecias were winterized for extreme cold by removing all of the lubricants possible (same as winterizing guns for extreme cold). The particular instructor, CPO Shakleford, had spent several tours in Antartica and used a Leica exclusively. The vogue professional camera at the time, the Nikon F, tended to freeze the mirror action in extreme cold and were apparently not much used. The Leicas would be serviced after the extreme Antarctic winter was over because there were consequences to using no lubricant. Of course, I could be passing on an "old wives tale." BTW, I thought Santa used a Rollei (gasp) (grin). Happy Holidays to all, Bill Larsen from the southern San Joaquin Valley of California where we got our first freeze two days ago.