Early Leitz Focusing attachment (VEHIG)

[alan mcfall]

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A Westlicth auction, Nov. 2014, had a unique swing-in focusing attachment that reminded me of a photo in the Die Leica publication dated Mar-April 1934. A photo of the Die Leica attachment is shown below. Most are familiar with the standard VEHIG of the substitution type, introduced in 1932 or 1933.  Prior to this actual confirmation of the image on a ground glass, close-up photos often depended on distance measurement or stands and Leitz charts and tables.  A WICAP attachment could help with the field size but not the focusing.  The VEHIG was substituted for the camera and the camera was inserted when the shot was taken, this was somewhat cumbersome.  Perhaps the swing-in modification was an attempt to make this a little easier.  The second photo below shows seven standard VEHIG units surrounding my swing-in attachment.  I have attempted to duplicate the Die Leica photo as complete as possible, including a VESUK protection sleeve and an early model II camera (73820)  My swing in attachment type VEHIG is similar to the Die Leica and the Westlitch models, but not identical. It does have the leitz condenser logo, which is shown in the third and final photo below.  It is not clear if the swing-in type VEHIG attachment was a prototype or maybe just an experimental version that never went into production.  The variations in the standard substitution VEHIG are few, with the early models having the coarse grained (alligator?) type black paint and the later units with the fine grained paint.  All had a nickel frame and rim to hold the viewer.  An original deep red box for the VEHIG is shown in the photo. A fiber and felt plug is used in the lens end of the VEHIG during storage.  All focusing screens are clear ground glass except one, which has vertical and horizontal cross hairs.

The VEHIG was soon supplemented with both the FILDY and the OORES, more about them another time.

 

 

If anyone has further information regarding these focusing attachments, please reply.

 

 

 

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[willeica]

Thanks Alan for your interesting post. I don't have this item, but I recently acquired the BEVOR close up set from 1931, which came with the ELPRO, ELPIK and ELPET close up lenses for the 5cm Elmar. I had wondered how one could calculate the field of view using such lenses without reference to various tables and other measurements etc. The Leica British General Catalogue for 1933 describes the VEHIG as a 'Ground glass housing for exactly determining the margin of the image, complete with x 5 finder magnifier and protecting lid for the lens opening of the Leica'.  It was priced at 1 pound, 17 shillings and 6 pence and it is shown in the X-Ray Reproduction and Copying Appliance sections.

 

It did survive for some years as it appears again in the 1938 edition of the same catalogue, by which time the price had risen to 2 pounds. It appears to be for use with the VELTU baseboard and the VEARM (later version ROOMB) extra long arm. There is a reference in both catalogues to the use of the ELPRO etc with this set up. I presume that in the illustrations with your post show one of the ELPRO etc set of lenses being used.

 

There is no sign of a swing in type attachment but both catalogues carry the VEZUK which is described as a 'Round side-holder to protect the lid of the Leica in case of frequent use of the reproduction arm'.  The 1933 catalogue carries an illustration of the VEZUK. Inflation was, obviously, taking hold in the 1930s as the price had more than doubled from 3 shillings in 1933 to 7 shillings in 1938.

 

This is just my two cents on the subject. I have been taking an interest in Leica close up and reproduction items from the 1930s of late. I have also acquired the BAZOO with extension tubes and I had previously acquired the NOOKY and the NOOKY-HESUM. Your post adds a lot to my knowledge and also shows me that I have a long way to go in collecting close up and copying items from that period. The various appliances generally only stayed in the Leica catalogue for very short periods as improvements were introduced.

 

Thanks once again.

 

William

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[luigi bertolotti]

Thanks for your interesting post ! I didn't know of the complexity and completeness of this old near focus setup...