Perceval Posted August 5, 2010 Share #1 Posted August 5, 2010 Advertisement (gone after registration) I have a chrome M4-P which I regularly use but I try to take care of it in order to maintain its value. It is/was virtually mint but an odd mark has just appeared on the vertical part of the top plate just above one of the strap lugs.. It consists of concentric rings, slightly elongated, about a centimetre in diameter; almost like a faint thumb print. It was not there when I bought the camera. Does anyone have experience of such a thing? I am not too hopeful about being able to remove it since I expect this would involve re-chroming the whole of the top plate. I do not use a camera strap so that can be ruled out. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted August 5, 2010 Posted August 5, 2010 Hi Perceval, Take a look here Marks in chrome top plate. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
jc_braconi Posted August 5, 2010 Share #2 Posted August 5, 2010 "I do not use a camera strap so that can be ruled out". Very strange Usually thess marks are coming from the belt attachments especially on the one near the viewfinder due to the fact that the lens is not in axe with the camera but a little on the left side. People use some leather protection around the clips/eyelets to protect the finish coating. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Perceval Posted August 6, 2010 Author Share #3 Posted August 6, 2010 ......the discolouration seems to be actually within the chrome, just under the surface. Perhaps is was a plating fault that got through the quality control process, or perhaps it is something that has migrated to the surface from the underlying zinc. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sabears Posted August 6, 2010 Share #4 Posted August 6, 2010 ...a photo would help... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Perceval Posted August 6, 2010 Author Share #5 Posted August 6, 2010 Here is a photograph. The mark appeared almost a year after I bought the camera and it has been used and stored with care, which suggests it is some sort of chemical reaction within the chrome plating rather than something that has made contact later. Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/127804-marks-in-chrome-top-plate/?do=findComment&comment=1398604'>More sharing options...
Artorius Posted August 7, 2010 Share #6 Posted August 7, 2010 I've had a couple of M4-Ps. One black and one chrome alhough they were both brass tops. Is this a brass or zinc top? If zinc, that may be the cause. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Perceval Posted August 7, 2010 Author Share #7 Posted August 7, 2010 Advertisement (gone after registration) Serial number is 1650387, which suggests a zinc top-plate. (It also has the M6-type viewfinder frame, and 2 synch-posts) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
josephgalilee Posted August 8, 2010 Share #8 Posted August 8, 2010 Hi Parsifal, (Serial number is 1650387, which suggests a zinc top-plate. (It also has the M6-type viewfinder frame, and 2 synch-posts) Well, the serial number seems that is an late M4-P, most of M6 example show some wrap, bubble and other disease. Zinc it's highly sensible to chemical agent with reaction and corrosion. So, your problem is not rare on zinc top and bottom plate scenery samples. Don't worry about it, your camera will work with success for long decades, one more reason to use it without worries, so will also feel that intensely lived. Kind regards Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Perceval Posted August 9, 2010 Author Share #9 Posted August 9, 2010 Thanks, JosephGalilee; "use it without worries" sounds right to me. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wizard Posted August 9, 2010 Share #10 Posted August 9, 2010 I am late to jump in here, but that does definetely NOT look like anything associated with the zinc bubble problem. To me, this looks like the residue of some cleaning liquid. Have you tried to rub off the marks? Try doing that and use some moisture in the process. If simple water doesn't help, use some ethyl alkohol and/or some lighter fluid. I am pretty sure it will go away. Andy Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Perceval Posted August 9, 2010 Author Share #11 Posted August 9, 2010 I tried lighter fluid and this did seem to have a slight effect; however, I now think the marks are on the underlying zinc and were created when it cooled when being formed. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wizard Posted August 9, 2010 Share #12 Posted August 9, 2010 ...I now think the marks are on the underlying zinc and were created when it cooled when being formed. I doubt that. On the zinc base material the chrome layer is applied, which is thick enough to cover marks like that. And there is no blistering (which is the usual defect with zinc top plates). I'd try to clean those marks away, they do appear to be at the very surface of the material. You could also try some nose grease, rub it in slightly with your fingertip and see if that brings some change. Andy Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Perceval Posted August 9, 2010 Author Share #13 Posted August 9, 2010 Thanks, Andy and, amazingly, the nose-grease worked! I recall that the late Victor Blackman, chlef photographer on one of the UK nationals, used nose grease to fill in scratches on negatives before enlarging from them. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
josephgalilee Posted August 10, 2010 Share #14 Posted August 10, 2010 Wizard said: "...but that does definetely NOT look like anything associated with the zinc bubble problem". But I never told that was zinc bubble problem on Parsifal M4-P. I just said, generally speaking, different of layer imperfections: "...late M4-P, most of M6 example show some wrap, bubble and other disease". That's it. Anyway, I'm satisfied that the special Leitz grease of nose working fine, but remain some issues inherent corrosion and chemical reactions on top and base plate zinc of the late some M4-P example and some early M6 cameras. Regards Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xmas Posted August 10, 2010 Share #15 Posted August 10, 2010 Anyway, I'm satisfied that the special Leitz grease of nose working fine, but remain some issues inherent corrosion and chemical reactions on top and base plate zinc of the late some M4-P example and some early M6 cameras. My M6 classic is 242xxxx (circa '97?) and has a large number of bubbles on top plate and back door, the base plate is as new. Noel Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
josephgalilee Posted August 10, 2010 Share #16 Posted August 10, 2010 Yeah, unfortunately, sometimes the last specimens are affected by these problems, the reason is always the same; corrosion and sensitivity to chemical reactions of zinc. Spray sea salt or many chemicals elements in air suspension, air pollution, can produce these zinc "diseases". However, these machines will enjoy good health to do many, many photographs, until the market will continue to provide the beloved film. Regards. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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