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Strange IIIg case with ⅜" screw


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When I got my IIIg, it came with a Leica ERC. I did not pay much attention to it, as I don't like ERC's (I do like half cases). It is obviously meant for a IIIg, as it has the extra height, cut away at the front for the delayed release and the window in the back to see the film reminder disc. However it has a ⅜" screw, rather than a ¼" screw. The base of my IIIg, has a ¼" female thread and does not have a ⅜"  to  ¼" adapter in it, like some of my other LTM cameras have. I looked at a friend's IIIg and ERC and they were both ¼", though admittedly, his 1959 IIIg is later than my 1957 (batch 4) one. 

 

Any thoughts as to why there might be a IIIg case with a ⅜" screw? 

 

Wilson

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Wilson,

 

Same with ERC's for M cameras of that vintage. One size (I do not recall whether it was ⅜" or  ¼") was delivered to Europe or at least to the German market, and the other one was for export to non-metric countries, mostly the US I believe. The base plates of the cameras had matching threads.

 

At some point in time, Leitz/Leica changed to just one size, which prevailed until now.

 

Since adapters exist, it is usually not a problem, except of course if your ERC has the bigger screw and the camera's base plate has the smaller thread. 

 

Cheers,

 

Andy

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Cover of USA Catalog of 1957 (IIIG & cases are in) : they clearly specify that the tripod head dimension is available in both sizes, on order.

 

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Edited by luigi bertolotti
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Cover of USA Catalog of 1957 (IIIG & cases are in) : they clearly specify that the tripod head dimension is available in both sizes, on order.

 

attachicon.gifLeitzcatalog_57_cover.jpg

 

Given that my IIIg came from a dealer, you might have hoped that he would check that the case fitted the camera. I  have just sent them an email, with a picture, showing both threads and asked them to replace either case or base plate. 

Edited by wlaidlaw
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Pounds v euros, miles v kilometres, left hand drive v right hand drive, gallons v litres, imperial v metric, feet v metres etc, etc. This is all part of the same old 'vive la difference'. Leica were doing no more than trying to deal with issues which they could not control within the markets they were serving. As for Wilson's ERC, this is a 'worst case scenario' with the larger screw and the smaller tripod bush. If it were the other way around an adaptor might suffice. There are a number of other solutions including changing the base plate or the screw in the bottom of the ERC or changing the ERC itself.

 

William

Edited by willeica
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William, 

 

Having tried some time ago to get the screw out of a Leica ERC - never, ever again. I have asked the dealer for either a different case or base plate.

 

Wilson

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Hello Wilson,

 

You might also look around & see if 1 of your other cameras might have a 3/8 baseplate & simultaneously be missing a case.

 

The dimensions are reasonably close enough (3/8 excepted) to be useful with a number of other Barnacks. Perhaps with a little "something" strategically added.

 

Best Regards,

 

Michael

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Hello Wilson,

 

You might also look around & see if 1 of your other cameras might have a 3/8 baseplate & simultaneously be missing a case.

 

The dimensions are reasonably close enough (3/8 excepted) to be useful with a number of other Barnacks. Perhaps with a little "something" strategically added.

 

Best Regards,

 

Michael

 

Michael,

 

Excellent thought. I could swap the baseplate over with my IIf (I assume they are interchangeable), which has a 3/8" screw. I will however wait for the response from the dealer. 

 

Wilson

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Michael,

 

Excellent thought. I could swap the baseplate over with my IIf (I assume they are interchangeable), which has a 3/8" screw. I will however wait for the response from the dealer. 

 

Wilson

Right... the dealer probably got the 2 items from different sources... if he's honest, he must recognize his lack of attention towards this detail... and answer in gear or money...

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It is difficult to remove the 3/8" screw, but not impossible. Once removed, it can be turned down and a 1/4" BSF thread put on. Thanks to Malcolm Taylor for that tip; it worked. If you do not have a lathe, seek out a friend with one.

 

Stuart

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It is difficult to remove the 3/8" screw, but not impossible. Once removed, it can be turned down and a 1/4" BSF thread put on. Thanks to Malcolm Taylor for that tip; it worked. If you do not have a lathe, seek out a friend with one.

 

Stuart

Stuart,

 

My lathe is all in bits and in any case is too large for that sort of job (10" throw). I have been trying to persuade the Bluebell Railway to take it as a gift, as it is of a similar age to many of their locomotives and they are only about 5 miles away from my UK house. Pro tem, I will just switch around the bottom covers of my IIf and IIIg but in reality it is up to the dealer to sort out, not me. My bill with Malcolm this autumn is going to be big enough anyway :-)

 

Wilson

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Or just sell the case on ebay and use the camera naked (the camera not you Wilson!).

James,

 

That is what I have and probably will continue to do. OTOH, I am dammed if the dealer (a substantial German specialist dealer in old cameras) should get away with it. At the moment it would seem they are doing their best to ignore me in the hope I will go away and have not responded to eBay message, email or phone message. If they are going to behave like that I could put a complaint in to eBay but all they can do is reverse the transaction, which given that it is a lovely IIIg, I don't want to do. The better solution may be to do as you say and sell the case on eBay but I don't think they sell well and certainly for not much money. I would then have to dig deep for a Luigi Crescenzi half case. I recently bought one for my Reid & Sigrist and they are lovely.

 

Wilson

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  • 3 weeks later...

My 1938 Leica III came with an ERC but the camera has a 3/8ths thread and the case a 1/4 thread. I wasn't told the camera had a case when i bought it so I can't complain. One of my IIIs has an insert in the base to take the smaller thread.

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My Reid and Sigrist uses a Leica IIIb base plate with a 3/8" socket. As Luigi at Leicatime only supplies his beautiful half cases with the very nice flush fixing screw in 1/4", I had to use one of my selection of these 1/4" to 3/8" adapters, some of which are better than others. The best have quite a shallow thread of around 2½ turns and a chamfered lip at the top, so that they almost fit flush with the camera base. The worst are the ones that come with Manfrotto tripods, which have a long screw and a square profile collar at the top. I am going to the UK this afternoon over the week-end for a family event. I am taking my black Model III and Series 5 LTM Summicron with me and using my Luigi half case with it. The 3/8" socket in the III base plate is even shallower than the IIIb one on my R&S. I tried 6 different 1/4 to 3/8" adapters, from my tin of small camera parts but even the best of them stands slightly proud of the base plate. You have to look very closely to spot this once the half case is on. 

 

I am going to have to chase up the seller for the replacement IIIg case, when I get back from the UK next week. I suspect he hopes I will just go away but he would be wrong. 

 

Wilson

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