Leica IIIa shutter dial inquiry

msteen1314 · Posted: Fri Aug 21, 2015 1:21 am Post subject: Leica IIIa shutter dial inquiry

I just received a Leica IIIa need some assistance.
The model serial # is in line with the Leica IIIa however, the top shutter speed dial does not look like any other IIIa dials in as much as it has a pin protruding from the top (between the 100 and 200) as though it was supposed to inter-lock with a light meter for example.

The dial also has a a recess that show the shutter speeds. This means that the dial has knurling that is twice the thickness.

Can anyone shed light on this. has the dial been swapped out from a later model.

Any assistance would be appreciated

Martin

duckrider · Joined: 11 Dec 2013 Posts: 437 Location: Germany

Congrats, aa nice looking original Leica! Your shutter dial seems to have an additional flash contact from the past: there is no sync contact but releasing the shutter lets the dial turn around. In this action the little knop did relase a mechanic to activate flash.
Look for Geiss contact e.g.,in the net. There were some other similar solutions for screw mount Leicas from that long ago times. Did You get additional parts to Your camera perhaps?

msteen1314 · Posted: Fri Aug 21, 2015 3:08 am Post subject:

thanks for your reply duckrider.

So just to clarify as there were no additional parts that came with the camera.

In looking online with the hints you gave me, I was able to find something called a Geiss Flash Kontakt. It is a two part contraption that had a pc socket attached to a cold shoe and a disc with a pin that attaches to the shutter speed dial.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-GEISS-KONTAKT-Synchronizer-Conversion-for-LEICA-IIIA-Leitz-NOS-/351381037311?hash=item51cff120ff

The shutter speed dial on all other IIIa's is flat, mine has a pin already attached to the dial. Would you know if my shutter speed dial is original to this IIIa?, or is it possible that it was a factory upgrade/modification to allow for such a mechanism as the Geiss Flash Kontakt?

Thanks again

duckrider · Joined: 11 Dec 2013 Posts: 437 Location: Germany

As far I can see. It's only an additional ring screwed onto the dial. Perhaps open the small screws and try to get the ring off. Do this only with wound up shutter and maention how the dial position is actually when lifting off.
As a German I have to apologise for linked name I gave to You above. We have an ultratasteless soap with an ultraultratasteless family with the same name, first search results gave links to those �#%&@?$√|�π��persons, sorry for that!
A coupled light meter would not work on screwmount Leicas, because the dial turns when shutter is released, this as additional idea.

msteen1314 · Posted: Fri Aug 21, 2015 3:58 am Post subject:

Genius !!
You were right, the knurled ring was attached to the original flat ring with the two small screws. It looked so complete that I assumed it was part of the dial.
Mystery solved.
Thanks so much for your time
Martin

duckrider · Joined: 11 Dec 2013 Posts: 437 Location: Germany

msteen1314 · Posted: Fri Aug 21, 2015 10:05 am Post subject:

Yes, wouldn't life be grand if that was always the case.

The camera is in great shape overall, and while the only issue is some cracking of the vulcanite, it is still tight to the body.

All shutter speeds are appropriate and the viewfinder clear and accurate. I plan on using it as with all the other cameras. This one however will be getting a case as it is just too clean to get it scratched. Obviously its been looked after for the last 77 years so I don't want to be the one to mess it up.

Have a great day

Martin