Lecia Conversions
The Leica I (Model A), introduced in 1925 had been constantly developed since almost immediately after its introduction. From the very beginning it was possible to add new features to older cameras. So for example you may find Anastigmat or early Elmax Leicas with a locking spring on the wind axis instead of a ratchet, or with the eight shutter speeds (B, 20, 30, 40.....) replacing the previous seven shutter speeds used earlier (B, 25, 40.......). With the introduction of the Model C with interchangeable lenses in May 1930, Leitz offered a conversion program to the model C. Cross model conversions were available as well until the Leica IIIf. The only model which was not upgradeable was the Model B, Leica Compur. Until the late fifties, it was possible to convert even the earliest model A to a IIIf. Depending how old the original camera was and when the conversion was done, different parts were used. Conversion of Model A into IIIa from 1936 looks different than the same conversion done in the midfifties. Looking inside the camera and analyzing which parts were used for the conversion very often helps determine when the conversion had been done.This article is the first from the series about various Leica conversions from my collection.
photo A: Top plate showing the original Bismuth engraved serial number, with serial number again scratched on the top plate, lower left.
The subject of this article was originally a Leica I, Model A with fixed mount Elmar. The camera left the factory on June 14, 1928 and was shipped together with FODIS SN 14221 to Jansen in Barmen. (In 1929 the town of Barmen, together with four other villages merged into today’s Wuppertal, Germany)A remark in the Leitz delivery records indicates that the camera went back the factory and was then shipped to Atelier Bork, this time without FODIS on November 9th, 1929.What was the reason for returning the camera to the factory? Was this perhaps the first conversion? Cameras produced in 1929 already had a modified release button replacing the original mushroom type release, but what was more important; they had automatic decoupling of the film transport when the rewind lever was placed in R position. It was no longer necessary to keep the release button pressed when rewinding the film. This was a pretty nice improvement and I believe that this conversion was the reason why the camera went back to the factory. Furthermore I believe that Jansen was a dealer and Atelier Bork was the end user. Foto Jansen is located in Barmen/Wuppertal, and still exists today according to my research.
Interchangeable lenses for the Leica and the Hektor lens itself were introduced after this camera’s first visit to the factory; therefore they could not have been part of this first conversion.
The Hektor 50mm prototype had been presented in May 1929 [2]. In early 1930 it went into production as a fixed lens mounted on the Model A.
In May 1930, interchangeable lenses for the Leica went into production. The distance between the lens flange and film plane was not standardized, so each lens was individually matched to the camera body. Lenses received the body serial number engraved on them (at first the full 5 digit serial number, and later the last three digits only) [3]. Engraving was placed either on the lens mount on lenses without the Depth of Field (DOF) scale or directly on DOF scale on the lenses which had it. The Hektor on the camera presented here has engraving on the DOF scale and this allows setting the date of conversion after July/August 1930.
In May 1931 the distance between lens flange and film plane was set to 28.8 mm. Subsequently, all lenses and bodies were produced according to this standard. In order to recognize standardized lenses and bodies, a “0” was engraved on the lens mount flange on the camera body at 12 o’clock and behind the lens lock release, and on the DOF scale.
In February 1932, the Leica II was introduced to the market. The early Leica II had a top cover with the characteristic “lavatory seat” under the speed dial.
Eye correction lever was introduced with Leica III in 1933, the shape was however different than the one on the presented camera. Different shape and the fact that the infinity engraving is filled with white paint and not Bismuth indicate that this was performed after 1936.There are some curious additional engravings on this camera as well. “Klawonn” on the body under the eyepieces and “W.K.” on the DOF scale (photos 1 & 9 on following page), definitely not done by Leitz. I assume that this is the name and initials of the former owner of this camera.
Facts and dates mentioned above let me assume that the camera went to the factory for conversion at least four times:1. In November 1929 to install the later type release button and the automatic decoupling of the film transport when the rewind lever was set to R.2. Sometime between July/August 1930 and May 1931 the camera received the Hektor lens replacing the original Elmar and also the interchangeable, non standardized lens mount. In theory it is possible that this was done in two separate conversions, however I do not have any indication of such so I will assume that this was all done in one step. This assumption is supported by the fact that only the last three digits of the camera body serial number are engraved and the engraving is on the DOF scale only (DOF scale was introduced with cameras above 41300).3. Standardization of bodies and lenses happened after May 1931. Conversion to Leica II spec was possible after February 1932, however due to the parts used for conversion, not later than early 1933. Again, not having any other indications to the contrary, I would assume that both improvements were part of one conversion done in 1932.4. Eye correction lever, as described above was added after 1936. The top cover was not replaced; it was only drilled to accommodate the fixing screw. This addition could have been performed until the mid-fifties, so a more precise time estimation is not possible.
So the questions arise now; what is still left from the original camera produced in 1928? Which parts have been replaced or added in each conversion step? A look at the inside of the camera will help. As a reference I am using the excellent publication of Angela v. Einem [1].
1. Parts which seem to be from original camera:
• Top plate – original serial number with Bismuth filling is still located under the rangefinder unit. During conversion to Model II spec, the camera serial number has been scratched on the top plate as can be seen on photo A.
• Main body crate – the spring located in cassette compartment is still there (photo 2). Th is was not present on later production cameras.
• Shutter speed dial with larger diameter of 15,4mm.
2. Parts replaced/added during first conversion in Nov. 1929:
• Release button as the one in present on the subject camera was introduced with camera serial number 15300. Decoupling of film transport during rewind was introduced at the same time, see photo 3.
• Film transport drum with two rows of teeth was introduced with SN 11500. Original camera had one row only (photo 3).
• Rewind lever and the screw as seen in photo 4. Th is screw was mounted in cameras between 22900 and 29000.
3. Parts added/replaced during second conversion, around
the end of 1930:
• Interchangeable lens mount on camera body, at that time still without “0” engraving, indicating non-standardized mount.
• Hektor in non-standard, interchangeable mount with last three digits of camera serial number engraved on lens DOF scale, see photo 5.
• Body shell with Vulkanit (Vulcanite) covering. Body shell still has a screw cover on the rear of the camera used to check proper lens focusing of fixed lens cameras. However, the early Leica II had this screw cover as well. Vulcanite covering is like that of the late Leica I, early Leica II. So why do I believe that the Vulcanite body covering was replaced at this conversion step and not later? Well, indications may be found in photo 6. Th e screw holes for the hockey stick are still there (marked in red on photo 6), but not in the exterior Vulcanite covering. Th is means that the body shell is still from the Leica I. Later top plates have 6 holes for mounting the top plate to the body shell; earlier top plates (until SN 39500) were mounted with 4 screws. Additional holes must have been drilled in the new shell to accommodate the original top plate with just four screws, marked green on photo 6.
• Bottom cover – locking mechanism (photo 7a, 7b) and markings indicate that it is from 1930. Th ere was no technical necessity to have the bottom plate replaced, as
the old one would fit the new body cover perfectly.
4. Third conversion, to Leica II, between February 1932 and the end of 19, see photo 8.
• Rangefinder added, Hektor upgraded with rangefinder coupling.
• Accessory shoe – the original round accessory shoe was replaced with the square one of the Model II.
• Top cover with the so called lavatory seat profile as used until the end of 1932.
• Rewind knob – the original, non-extensible knob was replaced with the one typical for the Leica Standard and Leica II models.
5. Last conversion, done between 1936 and approx. 1955:
• Eye piece correction lever has been added. (photo 9)
6. Parts with no evidence of replacement:
• Curtains are in excellent condition, almost too good to be original. However no sign of replacement can be found. (photo 10)
• Curtain drums are from the time when Leica I was produced. Th ere is no evidence that there were replaced, however, it cannot be excluded that they were replaced during the first or second conversion (photo 11). So as we may see there is not too much left of the original camera from 1928. Th is alone is not so unusual, however, what is interesting is the fact that the camera went back to the factory for conversion at least four times.
literature resources for this article:
[1] Ulf Richter, Die Entwicklung der 5cm Objektive zur Leica 25 Jahre Leica Historica, Erstauflage Juli 2000
[2] Angela und Prof. Dr. Henning v.Einem Die 10 Varianten der klassischen Leica IA mit Elmar 1:3,5 F=50mm 3.erweiterte Auflage 2008
[3] Dr.B.Bawendi, Die nicht standardisierte Leica I (Modell C) mit auswechselbaren Objektiven, VIDOM Nr. 78