Amich35 Posted April 30 Share #1 Posted April 30 Advertisement (gone after registration) I have a collection of Kodachrome stereo slides from 1940 that I discussed with this group last summer. I had been wondering what kind of cameras could have been used to make them and you all helped me determine it was probably a Leica. I recently purchased a used Leica IIIb on ebay and had a Cinderella moment when I discovered that the original brass stereo bar in my collection had been made to fit the camera. It was a perfect match. You can see the attached images. I'd like to set up the equipment like it would have been in 1940 so am wondering what Leitz tripod and tripod head would have been available then? And was the dual cable release available in 1940 as well? If I can put everything together, I will be going near Yellowstone this summer and would like to reshoot the original 1940 picture I posted here last summer of the camera rig at the Fountain Paint Pot in the Lower Geyser Basin where the original was made. See that image at the end. 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! 2 Quote 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/420895-1940-tripod-tripod-head-and-double-cable-release-help/?do=findComment&comment=5794515'>More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted April 30 Posted April 30 Hi Amich35, Take a look here 1940 Tripod, Tripod head, and double cable release help. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
jc_braconi Posted April 30 Share #2 Posted April 30 It is for the first time, that I see this aperture on the top of the camera, looks to clear the rear of the disengagment lever. I have only one IIIb and as I have not in hands for the moment I am a little surprised. 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! Quote 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/420895-1940-tripod-tripod-head-and-double-cable-release-help/?do=findComment&comment=5794521'>More sharing options...
Amich35 Posted April 30 Author Share #3 Posted April 30 1 hour ago, jc_braconi said: It is for the first time, that I see this aperture on the top of the camera, looks to clear the rear of the disengagment lever. I have only one IIIb and as I have not in hands for the moment I am a little surprised. 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! I don't understand what you mean. Please explain. For what it's worth, I'm not expecting the camera to work... Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
luigi bertolotti Posted April 30 Share #4 Posted April 30 (edited) Good sight JC😉... that black rectangle, Amich... what is it ? a perfectly milled hole ? Or a trivial black adhesive strip attached for..?? Leitz tripods of the era ? I have in mind only the tabletop ones (TOOSF and later TOOUG) .. and several ball heads (FIAKU/FOOMI/KGOON) easy to find - excellent quality And, why you do search for a DUAL cable release ? They were made for reflex boxes (PLOOT the Visoflex I) ; single cables were made in several lengths (FINOT/FIDRI/FISEX...) , not difficult to find an original one. Edited April 30 by luigi bertolotti Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_livsey Posted April 30 Share #5 Posted April 30 1938 Leica IIIb 35mm Rangefinder Camera 281103 - Good Working Condition | eBay Near Mint 🍅 Leica IIIb Rangefinder 35mm Vintage Film Camera 1939 JAPAN C367 | eBay Leitz Leica IIIb body n. 346831 | eBay LEICA IIIb 1936 | eBay Just a quick look but all these seem to have the same "cut out" ? 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
luigi bertolotti Posted April 30 Share #6 Posted April 30 (edited) In other IIIB pics the "black thing" is so vague that makes me think of a shadow,,, maybe made too straight by photoprocessing/pixelation... 😗 https://www.flickr.com/photos/bottledog/4833980942/in/pool-camerawiki https://www.msmaterialefotografico.it/prodotti/fotocamera-leica-iii-b-con-obiettivo-summitar-5cm-f-2-1939/ http://www.wetzlar-historica-italia.it/leicaIIIb.html Edited April 30 by luigi bertolotti Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jerzy Posted April 30 Share #7 Posted April 30 (edited) Advertisement (gone after registration) do you mean cutout behind the rewind lever (bluer arrow)? This is not unique to IIIb, was introduced from approx 193xxx. Rewind lever has a sort of cam, when set to R is blocking the pawl from going down and prevents from exposing the last frame before rewinding film, shutter runs down but fully closed. 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! Edited April 30 by jerzy 4 1 Quote 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/420895-1940-tripod-tripod-head-and-double-cable-release-help/?do=findComment&comment=5794728'>More sharing options...
Amich35 Posted April 30 Author Share #8 Posted April 30 5 hours ago, luigi bertolotti said: Good sight JC😉... that black rectangle, Amich... what is it ? a perfectly milled hole ? Or a trivial black adhesive strip attached for..?? Leitz tripods of the era ? I have in mind only the tabletop ones (TOOSF and later TOOUG) .. and several ball heads (FIAKU/FOOMI/KGOON) easy to find - excellent quality And, why you do search for a DUAL cable release ? They were made for reflex boxes (PLOOT the Visoflex I) ; single cables were made in several lengths (FINOT/FIDRI/FISEX...) , not difficult to find an original one. I was thinking the dual cable release to trigger both cameras at the same time, which is needed when shooting stereo. See the last two images. 1 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cyberider Posted April 30 Share #9 Posted April 30 Nice looking model railroad. Please show us more! Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amich35 Posted May 1 Author Share #10 Posted May 1 So can someone recommend a good, sturdy 1930s Tripod? Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_livsey Posted May 1 Share #11 Posted May 1 5 hours ago, Amich35 said: So can someone recommend a good, sturdy 1930s Tripod? I would look for a Linhof, their cameras were/are of the highest quality and the tripods, whether or not they made their own or "re badged", matched the quality. There will be some of that age and they are common on that auction site. I have an aluminium example which is simple and sturdy but dating any tripod to within even a decade is going to be challenging. The design and construction pre carbon fibre is pretty ubiquitous. An ETSY search for 1930s tripod provides some results but a dose of Sodium Chloride is required for the dating I suspect. Standard tripod screw sizes will not help there were early standards: The International Photographic Congress of 1889 recommended a size of 3/8", this size was adopted on the continent, in Britain 1/4" became the standard and would have been the size generally used from around 1890. (That's Whitworth thread) British Stand Camera Information - Antique and Vintage Cameras This is interesting but not a great deal of help: Tripods and Stands - Antique and Vintage Cameras Leica/Leitz are AFAIK all table top as their cameras were designed for hand holding and I presume marketing a full size tripod could detract from their niche. Perhaps look for well dated photos of photographers using a tripod for ideas? Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
250swb Posted May 1 Share #12 Posted May 1 Given you’ve got two cameras on the head a tripod for medium or large format would be the way to go and I’m not sure Leica made anything that sturdy. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amich35 Posted May 1 Author Share #13 Posted May 1 I appreciate the suggestions. Another question. Could I use the double cable release to trip the shutters on both Leica IIIb cameras? Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
luigi bertolotti Posted May 2 Share #14 Posted May 2 13 hours ago, 250swb said: Given you’ve got two cameras on the head a tripod for medium or large format would be the way to go and I’m not sure Leica made anything that sturdy. Yes... me too have never seen Leitz "heavy" tripods... but , thinking well, is rather probable they made some... not as accessories for Leica but as part of their surveying equipment sets (a market they were well engaged into... and still someway targeted by Leica Geosystem ) . Dunno where one could search for such historica... and neither I know if a tripod made for surveying can accomodate typical photographic heads... Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
luigi bertolotti Posted May 2 Share #15 Posted May 2 (edited) 11 hours ago, Amich35 said: I appreciate the suggestions. Another question. Could I use the double cable release to trip the shutters on both Leica IIIb cameras? In theory , yes : the OZWTO (not impossible to find) acts like this, and the attachments for shutter release button and Visoflex mirror actuation were identical. Only doubt is that the two mechanism are slightly different... and with Visoflex I you had to : a) flip the mirror THEN b) fire the shutter And the dual cable was surely made to execute correctly this sequence ... maybe one cannot fire both cameras at exactly the same moment... I haven't the OZWTO, but someone of us probably can give an answer. 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! Edited May 2 by luigi bertolotti Quote 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/420895-1940-tripod-tripod-head-and-double-cable-release-help/?do=findComment&comment=5795498'>More sharing options...
romanus53 Posted May 2 Share #16 Posted May 2 The double cable releases for mirror-boxes will work on both cables with a little delay as the have to flip up the mirror first and then fire the shutter. There are double cable releases that can be adjusted or fire both at the same time. Look for these if you want to take some action with both camerea shouting simultaneously. For landscape or still-life that doesn't matter and there are some stereo-devices out there where you have to slide or filp the only camera from first to secon picture to get a stereo. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
250swb Posted May 2 Share #17 Posted May 2 6 hours ago, luigi bertolotti said: Yes... me too have never seen Leitz "heavy" tripods... but , thinking well, is rather probable they made some... not as accessories for Leica but as part of their surveying equipment sets (a market they were well engaged into... and still someway targeted by Leica Geosystem ) . Dunno where one could search for such historica... and neither I know if a tripod made for surveying can accomodate typical photographic heads... A good thought, there are lots, and lots of Leica surveying tripods on eBay for not much money, but fitting a photographic head looks like a problem. No 1930's tripod makers seem to exist nowadays, Gitzo was in business but only started manufacturing tripods during the war. But a Google search reveals many generic or branded wooden photographic tripods. So if a period look is part of the vibe for the OP this site https://woodentripods.wordpress.com/ details the benefits of wooden tripods and does some reviews of current models. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
luigi bertolotti Posted May 2 Share #18 Posted May 2 (edited) Looking at ebay, seems that at least Leitz N.Y. did list a photo tripod ("Tiltall") : https://www.ebay.com/itm/226730705406?_skw=leitz+tripod&itmmeta=01JT8SPQ1KM6J1RF38C4AH0HW1&hash=item34ca3401fe:g:348AAOSwC4loE8kq&itmprp=enc%3AAQAKAAAA0FkggFvd1GGDu0w3yXCmi1fiVvgN3sZUH802gVPRm8Jdlyc%2BtNuzs2k%2BYz4E2%2BGVYUmsPLCzG21lRHq%2BjBuweeFBTHfvRO44U%2BIUSjhd9dU60M8khve5kb%2B1NDP8gFzP6uIKwtLdQ61KC5YJ93--NnlT1hCc2pT%2BTsldw874V5V8tqOoSL09k7NtsijzCfRfSo%2FGGG21Y%2FCsuJTsywQdcr3sOriFq5NmBPAnXvf4wne6mZJkBqsqxVE4KQESfrP8zu31aY3wERRwFZuOp9nl220%3D|tkp%3ABk9SR_jw2pnSZQ (probably a rebadge of some local product... but the label is Leitz... 😉, and looks a well designed item...) Edited May 2 by luigi bertolotti Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomB_tx Posted May 2 Share #19 Posted May 2 Tiltall started production in 1946 as a family business in the USA and produced the head and then the tripod complete until 1973 when the design was bought by the USA E. Leitz, Inc., in Rockleigh, New Jersey. I had borrowed one in college in the 1960s, and bought the Leitz USA version in the 1970s. It's a sturdy, simple no-frills tripod. I don't know when Leitz USA divested the brand, but I understand the Tiltall brand is now owned by a Taiwan company. 1 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amich35 Posted May 2 Author Share #20 Posted May 2 Well, I found my old Bogen tripod from the 1980s I used to use for a 4x5 Crown Graphic and put the stereo bar on just fine. It's nice and sturdy and will do the trick for now at no extra cost. When I get the second camera (also not working), I'll post some pix of the set up... with the model train in the background 😄 It sounds like the double cable release probably wasn't what was used in 1940 because there are a number of action shots in the collection. If that's the case, would it just be using two cable releases to trip both cameras? I'm new to Leica so I really appreciate all the help and suggestions! Mike Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.