Dear All,

I just bought a Leica IIIc of 1946/47 vintage, from my local camera dealer here in Jakarta, together with a 5.0cm f/3.5 Elmar lens, for just over $400. The camera seems in good condition, all shutter speeds work and the only sign of wear is where some of the chrome has peeled off the slow shutter speeds dial. It has an aftermarket flash socket that has been fitted next to the viewfinder window. The lens is a bit ugly and the focusing helical is stiff and wobbles from side to side. The glass seems OK, although I believe it's uncoated.

My questions are:

(1) How can I remove the take-up spool to load film? I've tired pulling the end of it gently but it won't budge.

(2) Is it normal for the focusing helical of the 50 Elmar to be stiff and wobbly? Frankly, it seems a rather crude construction.

(3) I know how to lock the lens into its extended position but when the lens is collapsed it flops in and out if I tilt the camera, which seems pointless. Is this normal or should it lock somehow into the fully collapsed position?

Grateful for any advice!

Regards, Ray

-- Ray Moth (ray_moth@yahoo.com), May 13, 2002

Answers

It sounds like the take-up spool is simply stuck from lack of use. I'd take a small pair of pliers and give it a tug.

The stiff and wobbly focus mount is an indication that the lubrication has dried out. No lubricant = stiff, and the lube fills a bit of space between the parts to keep them from wobbling.

As for the wobble when collapsed. . . . does this lens have a velvet liner in the mount for the tube to ride on? I don't remember. If so, that's worn.

-- Michael Darnton (mdarnton@hotmail.com), May 13, 2002.

I concur w/ Michael's comments. In addition, I recently had DAG service a IIIC that had a jammed film spool. No amount of pressure would extricate it & he found a broken part that was replaced when he cleaned it. The Elmar should operate without wobble & sounds like it is need of a serioud CLA.

-- Patrick (pg@patrickgarner.com), May 13, 2002.

Ray,

From the other comments (which I agree with), it is apparant that this camera and the lens could use some TLC. If the camera VF/RF is OK, you could get only the lens redone for $50 or so. With that, you'll have a nice camera. I'd suggest a hood for the Elmar, especially if it's uncoated.

Skip

-- Skip Williams (skipwilliams@pobox.com), May 13, 2002.

Thanks for your responses. I was successful in removing the take-up spool, after reading Michael's comments, but I didn't use pliers. Instead, I used a bent paperclip, which I hooked under the flange of the spool. I've given it a cleaning and it now can just about be withdrawn using finger pressure.

The camera is in pretty good condition, vulcanite is perfect, only sign of wear is on the slow speed dial, all shutter speeds work and the 1 second speed seems to be accurate. The rangefinder is clear and an orange filter has been added to the right-hand RF window (seen from the front). The viewfinder is also clear.

Interestingly, in addition to the added flash socket, the camera has a flash sync. control collar around the fast shutter speed dial, with numbers 0 to 20, which I think means it must have been upgraded by Leitz to a IIIf. Lowest speed on the fast shutter dial and highest on the slow dial is 1/30 sec.

The 50 Elmar lens serial number appears to be 601xxx, which means it was manufactured about the same time as the camera (~1946/7). It has old European f-stops at 3.5, 4.5, 6.3, 9, 12.5 and 18. I can't see any velvet lining in the tube to stop the lens from flopping back and forth in its collapsed position.

I thought the glass in the 50 Elmar was clean but, on more careful inspection, I can see cleaning scratches on the front element. There are also some tiny black specs that are visible when the diaphragm is fully open. However, the glass appears to be free from fogging or fungus. I'll give it a try, anyway.

I'll remove the peg that acts as a stop for the focus lever, which will allow me to dismantle the focus helix fully. I'll clean it and apply some lubrican (vaseline?) to the thread. That should make focusing smooth and help stop the wobble. Maybe I can get some nice soft portraits, who knows?

-- Ray Moth (ray_moth@yahoo.com), May 13, 2002.