Guest henjenn Posted July 31, 2011 Share #1 Posted July 31, 2011 Advertisement (gone after registration) Ok ... here is a survey question for Leica collectors. Do you mind new vulcanite on your Leica cameras? ......... if you just purchased a mint Single Stroke M3 with original box and paperwork....... but the M3 had some vulcanite missing on the back door and a small peice missing near the lug ...... would you keep it that way?..... or would you send it in for new vulcanite? It feels like the camera loses something when it get fresh vulcanite. Am I crazy or does anyone else feel this way? Does the collector value go down after new vulcanite is installed? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted July 31, 2011 Posted July 31, 2011 Hi Guest henjenn, Take a look here Original or new vulcanite. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
jc_braconi Posted July 31, 2011 Share #2 Posted July 31, 2011 Ok ... here is a survey question for Leica collectors. Do you mind new vulcanite on your Leica cameras? ......... if you just purchased a mint Single Stroke M3 with original box and paperwork....... but the M3 had some vulcanite missing on the back door and a small peice missing near the lug ...... would you keep it that way?..... or would you send it in for new vulcanite? It feels like the camera loses something when it get fresh vulcanite. Am I crazy or does anyone else feel this way? Does the collector value go down after new vulcanite is installed? If vulcanite is missing it is not a mint one and I will let it where it lays if it is priced as a mint one. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
zeitz Posted July 31, 2011 Share #3 Posted July 31, 2011 There is no new vulcanite. Vulcanite is rubber product that it vulcanized chemically, and the process hasn't been used in years. You can put new leather or leatterette on the camera, but it won't be vulcanite. That is, the vulcanite can't be restored to original condition. Leica sometimes uses the term vulcanette for its new products, but it is not the same as vulcanite. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest henjenn Posted July 31, 2011 Share #4 Posted July 31, 2011 OK so its not mint ... but its close ..... and the question NOW is would you tear off the remaining vulcanite and replace with a substitute or would you leave it. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
madNbad Posted July 31, 2011 Share #5 Posted July 31, 2011 Check out the posting about overdue order from cameraleather.com. If there is minor damage you can just leave it as a collector piece. If you plan use it and are interested in a whole new look,check out one of the recovering services. There are before and after photos of my 111c in the aforementioned post. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
spydrxx Posted August 1, 2011 Share #6 Posted August 1, 2011 Since it is NOT mint, nor are any features described which would make it particularly valuable, I'd recover it and use it for its intended purpose, taking photographs. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jc_braconi Posted August 1, 2011 Share #7 Posted August 1, 2011 Advertisement (gone after registration) OK so its not mint ... but its close ..... and the question NOW is would you tear off the remaining vulcanite and replace with a substitute or would you leave it. So you bought it for collecting or taking pictures ? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
topoxforddoc Posted August 1, 2011 Share #8 Posted August 1, 2011 There is no new vulcanite. Vulcanite is rubber product that it vulcanized chemically, and the process hasn't been used in years. You can put new leather or leatterette on the camera, but it won't be vulcanite. That is, the vulcanite can't be restored to original condition. Leica sometimes uses the term vulcanette for its new products, but it is not the same as vulcanite. Yes there is! CRR in Luton will replace with real vulcanite. Pete Grisalfi is one of the world's best Leica fettlers. He looks after our Queen's Leicas. CAMERA REPAIRS & RESTORATION - LUTON , ENGLAND - 2011 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twotone Posted August 1, 2011 Share #9 Posted August 1, 2011 There is some vulcanite missing from the back door on my1960 SS M3 which I bought in January. The dealer described this damage in his advert but since I'm not a collector this didn't bother me and I wouldn't have the camera recovered unless the damage got worse in the future but so far there's no sign of that. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xmas Posted August 1, 2011 Share #10 Posted August 1, 2011 You can patch chipped Vulcan so it is not detectable to naked eye... Childrens modelling clay, loaded with graphite, hot air gun etc. You clone the pattern and stamp it on the still molten clay... Instructions must be on the web..., never bother myself... Noel Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twotone Posted August 1, 2011 Share #11 Posted August 1, 2011 Yes there is! CRR in Luton will replace with real vulcanite. Pete Grisalfi is one of the world's best Leica fettlers. He looks after our Queen's Leicas. CAMERA REPAIRS & RESTORATION - LUTON , ENGLAND - 2011 Had a look at the link and for a CLA and vulcanite replacement the cost is £270 at 2009 prices, not bad although the vulcanite isn't original but a synthetic material. Still not too bad though IMO. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
topoxforddoc Posted August 1, 2011 Share #12 Posted August 1, 2011 Had a look at the link and for a CLA and vulcanite replacement the cost is £270 at 2009 prices, not bad although the vulcanite isn't original but a synthetic material. Still not too bad though IMO. That's a steal at that price. Pete Grisalfi's work is very good value and truly top quality. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
zeitz Posted August 1, 2011 Share #13 Posted August 1, 2011 Great description of the application process. Others have referred to sulphur being used in the curing process. Perhaps it was used in manufacturing the natural resin sheets. Can others shed more light on Leica Vulcanite? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
spydrxx Posted August 2, 2011 Share #14 Posted August 2, 2011 The original patented vulcanizaion process to make rubber durable and lose its stickiness (1844) indeed used sulphur. Since then other compounds have been successfully used for specialized functions. I have no idea of how it was produced for camera coverings. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wizard Posted August 2, 2011 Share #15 Posted August 2, 2011 ...The dealer described this damage in his advert but since I'm not a collector this didn't bother me and I wouldn't have the camera recovered ... No need to recover the camera if only the back door is at fault. You may want to recover only the back door, with Leica's leatherette "Vulkanite"-style. I did that with my M3 and it looks just fine. An expert can tell the difference, but it is almost unnoticeable. Andy Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gyoung Posted August 6, 2011 Share #16 Posted August 6, 2011 coveeing on the back of my M3 split and stretched about 20 years ago, I stuck it back diwn with 2 pack epoxy, It does not apear to have affected picture taking..... Gerry Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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