Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1998/12/06

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Subject: [Leica] Identification of odd shutter speed knob on IIIc
From: "Doug Richardson" <doug@meditor.demon.co.uk>
Date: Sun, 6 Dec 1998 13:03:00 -0000

From: rurmonas@senet.com.au (Richard Urmonas) wrote:

>Rather than a round knob with a knurled edge, my
IIIc is fitted with a "tri-lobal" knob.  That is it is round but has
three projections on it.  The overall shape is not unlike that of a
Wankel
engine rotor.


Hello Richard,

I think that your camera has been fitted with the CAVOO speed-setting
dial - part of a flash synchronisation scheme which Leitz devised for
pre-IIIf screw Leicas. The cam was designed to work with a device
(VACU I seem to recall) which fitted over the normal shutter release
button. As the shutter dial turned, the cam initiated the operation of
a flashgun plugged into the VACU. I've seen references in older books
to a synchronising dial fitting over the existing speed-setting dial,
but have never owned one so can't be sure. I suspect that your dial
was fitted in place of the original.

Regards,

Doug Richardson