Leica III series covers

Gordon Coale · 03-07-2006

This has been bugging me. Someone here must know. I've been looking at all the wonderful Barnack Leicas in this new forum and the covers definitely look different than mine. The picture on the left is my IIIc. The one on the right is the IIIa belonging to FrankS. His seems to be more representitive of the vulcanite on III series cameras. Are there others like mine and, if not, what is mine?

Honu-Hugger · 03-07-2006

Gordon,
The covering on my IIIa is like Frank's. Do you know the history of your camera? The covering on mine is most likely original because it has been passed from my Grandfather who purchased it new. I wonder if yours has been recovered?

OldNick · 03-07-2006

When I looked closely, I could detect that yours appears to have a more "raised" grain pattern than either my IIIa or IIIf. Both of mine more closely resemble your second example.

FrankS · 03-07-2006

My IIIa has been recovered by a previous owner!

Honu-Hugger · 03-07-2006

Can we put this to another RFF poll? (

)

Nikon Bob · 03-07-2006

Yours might have what is called "sharkskin" type covering and is a much rougher covering. My IIIc has it and My IIIf and IIf do not. Check here http://www.pacificrimcamera.com/pp/leica/sm/iiic.htm .

Nikon Bob

Gordon Coale · 03-07-2006

I've seen the term "sharkskin" before. Does "sharkskin" refer to the skin of the fish that lives in the ocean with all the terrible teeth that scared the hell out of Roy Scheider or is it a synthetic material that only pretends?

Gordon Coale · 03-07-2006

After I posted I see that Nikon Bob edited his post with the link that says it is only pretend shark skin and is only a different type of vulcanite.

Nikon Bob · 03-07-2006

Gordon

This may be of interest to you and others with vulcanite body coverings http://www.nemeng.com/leica/032b.shtml , if you are also looking at how to maintain it or repair it.

Nikon Bob

scigeek · 03-08-2006

Gordon,

My 111c has vulcanite which is different again. But more like your second example. Since this is a 1940 camera, and the vulcanite is in excellent nick, Im wondering if it's been replaced at some time. I've only had the camera about 5 years or so.
Or maybe the camera was always cased and the case wore the pattern?

Honu-Hugger · 03-08-2006

Another informative site, and they will re-vulcanize as original:
http://www.angelfire.com/biz/Leica/vulcanite.html

scigeek · 03-08-2006

I see that on the:

http://www.angelfire.com/biz/Leica/vulcanite.html

site, they state that Leica used three diffferent vulcanite patterns.
This must be part of your answer, Gordon?

Gordon Coale · 03-08-2006

My IIIc is from 1949 so they didn't switched back until later. Who knew there were that many coverings?