Whale oil beef hooked

[Pangur Ban]

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I've just read in another thread that Leica used whale oil in the olden days in its manufacturing process. This is fascinating as I've just read a marvellous book on the whale - Leviathan by Philip Hoare btw - which went into details on the many uses whale oil had in industry, but I must confess not suspecting that my vintage Leica cameras and lenses may contain such material. Not too surprising, given the prevalence of its use pre-synthetic oils but interesting nonetheless.

 

Can anyone shed anymore light on this topic?

[www.rolleica.cn]

Ban, could you share the link to the other thread?

I repair Leica and I think so. 

But after 80 years, the Spermaceti is no good anymore.

I have to take off the focusing tube, wash off these old crease, replacing it with 100% synthetic lub.

The owners may simply amazed by the difference!

 

 

[www.rolleica.cn]

Here is a 1940 Elmar 3.5cm Luftwaffen recently serviced.

Test shot, M9-P handheld at 1 meter, wide open. Rather impressive.

Also, the 'century old'  whale oil grease was replaced by 100% synthetic lub. 

The video on the article below shows the difference:

http://rolleica.cn/h-nd-97.html#_np=0_596_3

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