Build differences in film M cameras

[colint544]

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This has to be one of the most nit-picking questions anyone has ever asked on this forum, but I'm going to ask it anyway. Frankly, it's so nit-picking, that I'll be amazed if anyone knows the answer. Here goes..

 

Does anyone know why, when you look at the front face of a film M, there are more screw-heads showing through the vulcanite on some models, than on others?

 

I'm attaching a shot of the front of my M4. When you view the camera face-on, below, and to the left of the self-timer, there are two small screw heads embedded in the vulcanite. My M5 is exactly the same. But I've noticed that the M2, M3, and MA only have a single screw head at that point. Why is that?

 

If anyone knows, and can tell me, I promise to start getting out a bit more.

 

 

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[TomB_tx]

The added screw mounts a pivot for the frame counter zero-reset linkage, which was a new design in the M4 and later.

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[earleygallery]

The added screw mounts a pivot for the frame counter zero-reset linkage, which was a new design in the M4 and later.

 

The M3 frame counter resets itself, it was only the M2 that had a manual reset.

[colint544]

Yes, the M3 has an automatically resetting shot counter, just the same as the M4/5/6/7/A. I just wondered why Leica had this extra screw for the M4/5/M4-P, then went back to the original design.

[duckrider]

have a look here:

minute 8 ff.

 

but it's funny, how did they solve this automatic rest on M3 & Md camera?

I think M3 had a more sophisticated (=complicated =costly) solution, later changed to the additinal srew.

 

here we have a M3 with this screw:

http://leicaphilia.com/black-paint-m3-w-lenses-sells-for-472000/

and without:

https://i2.wp.com/leicaphilia.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/Black-Paint-M3-earliest.jpg

on M6 & later screw is covered by leatherette:

https://lavidaleica.com/content/overview-m-system

Thomas

[TomB_tx]

On the M3 the counter reset when the take up spool was removed, by a linkage through the takeup spindle. The M4 and later reset when the bottom plate is removed, by a linkage that runs down the front and pivots on that screw.

[Stealth3kpl]

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The M4 used to have a little shelf there from which you could hang your leather Leica driving gloves. It was the start of a slippery slope.

Pete

[Michael Geschlecht]

have a look here:

minute 8 ff.

 

but it's funny, how did they solve this automatic rest on M3 & Md camera?

I think M3 had a more sophisticated (=complicated =costly) solution, later changed to the additinal srew.

 

here we have a M3 with this screw:

http://leicaphilia.com/black-paint-m3-w-lenses-sells-for-472000/

and without:

https://i2.wp.com/leicaphilia.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/Black-Paint-M3-earliest.jpg

on M6 & later screw is covered by leatherette:

https://lavidaleica.com/content/overview-m-system

Thomas

 

Hello Duckrider,

 

It says in the text of the M3 with 2 screws that the camera had been retro fitted with an M4 release film counter on the opening of the bottom plate system in place of the M3's original release film counter on removal of the film spool system.

 

Best Regards,

 

Michael

[duckrider]

On the M3 the counter reset when the take up spool was removed,..

Grrrr, so many yrs. ago using M3 in combination with dark oblivion!

Thanks for lighten up!

Thomas

[Beresford]

The M4 used to have a little shelf there from which you could hang your leather Leica driving gloves. It was the start of a slippery slope.

Pete

 

You are a tonic!