Leica M3 Double Stroke Shutter

[straycat23]

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I am considering buying an early M3 double stroke that apparently the shutter will not fire. I don't know what the owner has tried, but he does not have a take up spool. Would not having a take up spool in the camera prevent the shutter from firing? The camera appears to be in good shape otherwise.

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[Topsy]

10 minutes ago, straycat23 said:

I am considering buying an early M3 double stroke that apparently the shutter will not fire. I don't know what the owner has tried, but he does not have a take up spool. Would not having a take up spool in the camera prevent the shutter from firing? The camera appears to be in good shape otherwise.

It doesn't on my M2.

[straycat23]

3 hours ago, Topsy said:

It doesn't on my M2.

 It doesn’t on my M2 either. I’m wondering if there is some specific interlock on the double stroke M3’s that would keep the shutter from firing if there were no take up spool installed. Thanks for the reply.

[Mute-on]

3 hours ago, straycat23 said:

I am considering buying an early M3 double stroke that apparently the shutter will not fire. I don't know what the owner has tried, but he does not have a take up spool. Would not having a take up spool in the camera prevent the shutter from firing? The camera appears to be in good shape otherwise.

Absence of the M2/M3 take up spool make no difference. I would suspect a far deeper and potentially substantial issue. The only way to find out is to have it disassembled by a Leica expert. 

[straycat23]

59 minutes ago, Mute-on said:

Absence of the M2/M3 take up spool make no difference. I would suspect a far deeper and potentially substantial issue. The only way to find out is to have it disassembled by a Leica expert. 

Thanks. This is helpful 

[jerzy]

vor 12 Stunden schrieb Mute-on:

Absence of the M2/M3 take up spool make no difference

M3 without take up spool - film counter does not work, otherwise no impact, Yes, it is most probably bigger issue. But, in case seller is not famliliar with M cameras - at the very end of wind cycle slightly bigger resistance has to be overcome abd very often a click might be heard. If winding will be stopped before than the camera will not fire (you cannot press release button down)

Edited February 23 by jerzy

[straycat23]

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4 hours ago, jerzy said:

M3 without take up spool - film counter does not work, otherwise no impact, Yes, it is most probably bigger issue. But, in case seller is not famliliar with M cameras - at the very end of wind cycle slightly bigger resistance has to be overcome abd very often a click might be heard. If winding will be stopped before than the camera will not fire (you cannot press release button down)

This click would be heard at the end of the second stroke if I’m understanding you correctly. I guess it’s possible the owner didn’t push the wind lever far enough. That’s the problem with buying online. You can’t hold the camera in your hands. I don’t think I’ll buy this camera. Thanks for the reply. Always helpful on this forum.

[jerzy]

vor 2 Stunden schrieb straycat23:

This click would be heard at the end of the second stroke if I’m understanding you correctly

correct. Shutter problems may solved in most cases with CLA, it is advisable anyhow. Much more critical is condition of rangefinder, main prism. Repair of rangefinder is more complicated than the shutter itself and if main prism has separation then it might be very costly repair.

[straycat23]

26 minutes ago, jerzy said:

correct. Shutter problems may solved in most cases with CLA, it is advisable anyhow. Much more critical is condition of rangefinder, main prism. Repair of rangefinder is more complicated than the shutter itself and if main prism has separation then it might be very costly repair.

Thank you Jerzy