Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1999/01/31

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Subject: Re: [Leica] plug inside non-TTL M6
From: Walter S Delesandri <walt@jove.acs.unt.edu>
Date: Sun, 31 Jan 1999 19:43:55 -0600 (CST)

Well, Mark, there HAVE been examples of after-market replacement 
parts in our industry...
The "metal" foot for the Vivitar 283/285 comes to mind, as does 
the "aftermarket" replacement cocking racks for the ubiquitous 
"Retina" camera models (only one weak part on an abominable
piece of shit)....

Certain accessories of the highest caliber also occasionally pop 
up (Tom A. rapidwinder, aftermarket "Benser" junk from the 
late fifties, aftermarket japanese "M" rings -- these pop to 
mind)

I doubt you'll see any titanium sync blocks for M4-2-P-6, tho....
the factory part holds up OK in 'NON_SEVERE" use, and it's 
a complicated piece to manufacture.  I wonder if Leitz makes the 
original block for replacement in the older cameras? (although I"ve 
never seen one NEEDING a replacement.

The replacement block for my M4-2 cost about $60 (plastic).

Now where an aftermarketer COULD survive, possibly, is rebuilding
M2-3-4 RFDRS now that Leitz won't, and a replacement is over $500 (M6
style)...IF it's possible to do it profitably...by obtaining a 
stash of ones needing recementing/coating/etc.....I don't know....

Cheers, 
Walt

On
Sun,
31 Jan 1999, Mark Rabiner wrote:

> Walter S Delesandri wrote:
> > 
> > NO - there isn't -- unless they started putting it back in in
> > recent years!!! from about 1979+, there IS no adjustment screw...
> > they "shoved" the RFDR "telesc ope" into adjustment (??) and
> > glued it....
> > 
> > Now, If they started putting the adjustment back in, let me
> > know....I've been BITCHING about this for twenty years and
> > three cameras of my own....
> > 
> > But I doubt it....just like I doubt that they'll go back
> > to METAL for the sync block....if you use flash, don't
> > yank too hard on the sync post....it's screwed into PLASTIC !!!
> > 
> snip
> I would think their could be a cottage industry of people with garage
> machine shops or better making  replacement parts of exotic metals where
> plastic or cheap aluminum used to be. I'm very fond of uses of Titanium
> or Brass. Ceramic parts I guess are not easily worked up in casual circumstances.
> 
> Mark Rabiner
>