jimofnyc Posted February 26, 2014 Share #1 Posted February 26, 2014 Advertisement (gone after registration) Hello Forum members. I inherited a IIIc from my father when he died in 1967. In the Leica serial number data base, my camera (479757) is identified as a IIIc built in 1949 but my camera also has the self-timer lever on the front so it appears to have been modified at some point before I got hold of it. It looks now as a IIIf. My question is: Is there any record of what dealer or who the camera was originally shipped to after it left the factory, or when it may have been modified - if it was done by Leitz? 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/222696-history-of-my-iiic/?do=findComment&comment=2539735'>More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted February 26, 2014 Posted February 26, 2014 Hi jimofnyc, Take a look here History of my IIIc?. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
sabears Posted February 26, 2014 Share #2 Posted February 26, 2014 Yes, there are records about your camera. Write a line to Leitz... then hope they answer, sometime it happens, sometimes not. You have to be lucky. cheers Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
M9reno Posted February 26, 2014 Share #3 Posted February 26, 2014 There may be other 'clues' to help you narrow down the date of the modification. For example: 1. There are red as opposed to black flash-sync numbers around your speed dial. 2. The speeds seem (not clear from the photograph) to be in the intenational progression 1000, 500, 250, 125, instead of 1000, 500, 200, 100. 3. You have an Elmar 50mm f/2.8 attached (I am assuming this is also formerly your grandfather's). The sharkskin covering seems original to the camera, however. Others will have better grasp of all this stuff than I. But I suggest a date for the conversion in the late fifties, possibly 1957-1960. Best wishes, Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
earleygallery Posted February 26, 2014 Share #4 Posted February 26, 2014 Yes it looks like a contemporary conversion to lllf spec. This was pretty common at the time although not many seemed to bother with a self timer upgrade. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomB_tx Posted February 26, 2014 Share #5 Posted February 26, 2014 This was a common conversion. I was given a collection that included a IIIf red-dial that has a serial number from a model IIIa. Since the IIIa and IIIf bodies are different length, this means the "upgrade" put the old IIIa serial number on a new IIIf body. I assume that allowed it to go through customs and such as a used camera and avoid new taxes. http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/leica-collectors-historica/13842-ltm-users-its-time-stand-up-33.html#post2277209 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
UliWer Posted February 26, 2014 Share #6 Posted February 26, 2014 Factory conversions from IIIc to IIIf were common. Since your camera has red numbers on the flash syncronisation scale the conversion was done not earlier than 1952. The self timer tells us the conversion was not done earlier than 1954. Most unusual is the lens, since not so many f/2.8 in screw-mount were produced and most went with the IIIg. Since the lens might have been added later there is no proof but a high probability that your grandfather decided to get the new lens at the same time when he "upgraded" the camera. This leads us to 1957 or later. So I'd back M9reno's assumption as so far. Though I don't see a change in shutter times, the "40" was on the original IIIc. The later sequence 1/25, 1/50, 1/75, 1/100 needed a new shutter, which was usually not part of the conversion we see here. The original "shark skin" cover and - as far as we can see -the lack of the "small pox" you find on the chrome of many post war IIIc makes it a nice example of subtle changes during the last decade of screw-mount cameras. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
luigi bertolotti Posted February 26, 2014 Share #7 Posted February 26, 2014 Advertisement (gone after registration) The Elmar is also from 1957... any insight point to this year for the conversion date; a little detail... converted IIIc have the sync numbers engraved on a little baseplate fitted with the two little screws well visible in the picture of the top (see also this item, of very similar age): 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! While the IIIa converted to IIIf, being needed, as said in an above post, the swap of the entire body shell, have the sync numbers normally engraved on body Clearly it was considered more economical, though less elegant, to add the little baseplate instead of engraving directly the body. Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! While the IIIa converted to IIIf, being needed, as said in an above post, the swap of the entire body shell, have the sync numbers normally engraved on body Clearly it was considered more economical, though less elegant, to add the little baseplate instead of engraving directly the body. ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/222696-history-of-my-iiic/?do=findComment&comment=2540052'>More sharing options...
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