I must be MAD

dougdarter · 09/18/07, 01:46 PM

Hi,

The postman delivered a very welcome parcel this morning. It was my old Leica II and 5cm Summar which have been away for a CLA.

The camera, which I've owned since buying it in a fleamarket in Fallingbostel, Germany in 1970, as a callow youth, was in desparate need of a service - the shutter curtain was almost see through, and the speeds, particularly the low ones were inconsistent. The lens, which is in remarkably good condition, was a bit misty, as were the VF and RF windows on the camera.

The body is a very early non export model.

Well both are back, and working as good as new, remarkable when you consider the body is from 1932, and the lens from 1935.

Incidentally, has anyone seen a shutter release cup like this before?? I'm not at all sure that it's original.

I paid £350 for all the work

Am I mad?? I could have bought a near mint body for that amount!!

fernando_b · 09/18/07, 01:58 PM

but the near mint body wouldn't have been that one you brought in your youthness...
Fernando.

Philippe D. · 09/18/07, 02:43 PM

Hi, very nice Leica II indeed.

Quote:

Originally Posted by dougdarter

Incidentally, has anyone seen a shutter release cup like this before??

Donald Goldberg have it.
Look at Leica Screwmount (DAGSM123 and DAGSM125) for ~US$20 + 2 or 3 for shipping.

dougdarter · 09/18/07, 03:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Philippe D.

Hi, very nice Leica II indeed.
Donald Goldberg have it.
Look at Leica Screwmount (DAGSM123 and DAGSM125) for ~US$20 + 2 or 3 for shipping.

Thanks for the link - not quite the same, but it's a very interesting site. I'm pleased you linked to it.

Philippe D. · 09/18/07, 04:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dougdarter

not quite the same

Yes, the DAGSM123 shutter guard is the original one for your camera. The one on your pictures are something else as original.

Quote:

I'm pleased you linked to it.

You're welcome.

bayerische · 09/18/07, 07:07 PM

Nice indeed!

I can't help asking, since I've never looked trough a Viewfinder of a II, is the view much smaller than on an M?

Philippe D. · 09/18/07, 07:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bayerische

is the view much smaller than on an M?

Kyllä, paljon pienempi. *

* Yes, much smaller

earleygallery · 09/18/07, 08:43 PM

Very nice - lets see some of your photos with it. If you'd bought a mint example the camera would probably still need a cla if you were going to use it. Money well spent and good Summar's are getting difficult to find.

Andreas - the LTM viewfinder is very small, and there are no frame lines, what you see is what you almost get, although I find it quite useable. The rangefinder is a separate 'window' and gives a magnified view, which I think is actually better than the M (but not as convenient of course).

dcoombs · 09/18/07, 11:21 PM

Doug, just curious - who did you send it to? I've got a similar example which may need work.

Doug

bayerische · 09/19/07, 12:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Philippe D.

Kyllä, paljon pienempi. *

* Yes, much smaller

Ha

You know since I'm what the "real" finns call a "Hurri" I could barely understand that, I'm a "Swedish-Finn". Oh, yeah, that's a word alright!

eyedeebee · 11/18/07, 03:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dcoombs

Doug, just curious - who did you send it to? I've got a similar example which may need work.

Doug

Doug - I know this quite an old thread, but if you still need the work done I can throughly recommend Malcolm Taylor (UK based) who advertises in the back of AP most weeks. He did a fantastic job on my iiic - He's also a really interesting chap to chat to, and is happy to share some good tales!

He found a sticker deep in my camera that indicated that it was sold at some point by Oldens NYC, I've been trying to find out something about the history of the shop - there are some stories about serious fall outs with trade union members working in the shop etc - If anyone has any info I would be very interested.

jc_braconi · 11/19/07, 02:18 PM

Doug,
You done the right thing, in MHO,
is your range finder has an inside yellow filter to increase contast as mine ? (first year production: fed.32)

Cheers
JC

flatfour · 11/19/07, 08:10 PM

Your £350 will seem as nothing in a few years partly because of inflation partly because prewar Leicas are increasing in value and partly because you will enjoy using a smoothly functioning Leica screwmount. Good luck they really are great fun to use and can produce exceptional results.

09/18/07, 01:46 PM	#1 (permalink)
dougdarter Erfahrener Benutzer Join Date: 09/03/07 Location: Longtown, Cumbria, UK Posts: 132	I must be MAD Hi, The postman delivered a very welcome parcel this morning. It was my old Leica II and 5cm Summar which have been away for a CLA. The camera, which I've owned since buying it in a fleamarket in Fallingbostel, Germany in 1970, as a callow youth, was in desparate need of a service - the shutter curtain was almost see through, and the speeds, particularly the low ones were inconsistent. The lens, which is in remarkably good condition, was a bit misty, as were the VF and RF windows on the camera. The body is a very early non export model. Well both are back, and working as good as new, remarkable when you consider the body is from 1932, and the lens from 1935. Incidentally, has anyone seen a shutter release cup like this before?? I'm not at all sure that it's original. I paid £350 for all the work Am I mad?? I could have bought a near mint body for that amount!! __________________ Regards, Doug My mates my M8 http://www.dougdarter-photography.co.uk

09/18/07, 01:58 PM	#2 (permalink)
fernando_b Erfahrener Benutzer Join Date: 09/09/05 Posts: 543	Re: I must be MAD but the near mint body wouldn't have been that one you brought in your youthness... Fernando.

09/18/07, 07:07 PM	#6 (permalink)
bayerische Erfahrener Benutzer Join Date: 11/09/06 Location: Helsinki Posts: 747	Re: I must be MAD Nice indeed! I can't help asking, since I've never looked trough a Viewfinder of a II, is the view much smaller than on an M?

09/18/07, 08:43 PM	#8 (permalink)
earleygallery Erfahrener Benutzer Join Date: 06/29/06 Posts: 2,894	Re: I must be MAD Very nice - lets see some of your photos with it. If you'd bought a mint example the camera would probably still need a cla if you were going to use it. Money well spent and good Summar's are getting difficult to find. Andreas - the LTM viewfinder is very small, and there are no frame lines, what you see is what you almost get, although I find it quite useable. The rangefinder is a separate 'window' and gives a magnified view, which I think is actually better than the M (but not as convenient of course). __________________ Regards, James www.earleygallery.com

09/18/07, 11:21 PM	#9 (permalink)
dcoombs Erfahrener Benutzer Join Date: 12/03/06 Posts: 111	Re: I must be MAD Doug, just curious - who did you send it to? I've got a similar example which may need work. Doug

11/19/07, 02:18 PM	#12 (permalink)
jc_braconi Erfahrener Benutzer Join Date: 03/20/04 Posts: 575	Re: I must be MAD Doug, You done the right thing, in MHO, is your range finder has an inside yellow filter to increase contast as mine ? (first year production: fed.32) Cheers JC

11/19/07, 08:10 PM	#13 (permalink)
flatfour Erfahrener Benutzer Join Date: 09/23/04 Posts: 1,128	Re: I must be MAD Your £350 will seem as nothing in a few years partly because of inflation partly because prewar Leicas are increasing in value and partly because you will enjoy using a smoothly functioning Leica screwmount. Good luck they really are great fun to use and can produce exceptional results.

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