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Monopix
Tinkerer
Username: Monopix
Post Number: 22
Registered: 11-2008
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, May 04, 2009 - 03:04 pm: | 
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Anyone familiar with this lens?
I need to remove the ring of 'leather' to dismantle it but whatever it is (it's not leather) is breaking up. I don't see how I can remove it without damaging it - unless you know how - so the question is really can I get a replacement leather or how could I make/cut one?
Any ideas?
There's a picture of one here which looks like someone has had the same problem... |
Glenn
Tinkerer
Username: Glenn
Post Number: 567
Registered: 07-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, May 04, 2009 - 05:24 pm: |
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The ring is not leather - it is vulcanite, so you will not remove it in one piece. As for a replacement, you will have to cut one yourself. If you want a good match, Micro-Tools sell a self adhesive leatherette - Part nos 4040 €11.40 for a 9"x11" sheet. The grain on this product is a very good match for the original Leica vulcanite, and I have used it on a number of well used M types with badly damaged vulcanite - the condition of the chrome or paint not warranting an expensive like for like replacement. If you are not bothered about looks, any black leather/vinyl of suitable thickness will do. I am sure the lady of the house will not notice, if a small circle is cut from her best handbag!
If you cannot lay your hands on a proper circle cutter, you can easily knock one up using an old fashioned compass - the type that takes a pencil - and a standard straight pointed X-acto knife blade. Just lock the shank of the blade in the pencil hole, then carefully rotate until the material is cut. Note that once you have made the first circular cut, with care the blade will follow this cut until the blade completely penetrates the leatherette. |
Monopix
Tinkerer
Username: Monopix
Post Number: 23
Registered: 11-2008
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, May 05, 2009 - 01:13 am: |
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>I am sure the lady of the house will not notice, if a small circle is cut from her best handbag!
You haven't met her obviously... ;-)
But thanks for the reply. I think I'll go ahead and dig out the vulcanite then and think about a replacement once I've got the lens working as I would like. Presently it's quite stiff and it looks like the helicals could do with cleaning and re-greasing. |
Glenn
Tinkerer
Username: Glenn
Post Number: 569
Registered: 07-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, May 05, 2009 - 05:30 am: |
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Peter,
If you PM me your address and the actual outer diameter of the vulcanite ring, I will send you a piece (off cut) of the 4040 product big enough to easily provide a replacement.
'Ladies of the house' do tend to notice little things connected with this 'hobby', "what do you need that for' or 'I thought you had one of those', seems to be directed at me quite frequently. The excuse that the new acquisition is in better condition, does not seem to wash - perhaps this is because everything ends up in pieces on the bench no matter what the initial condition is! Actually the real reason is that the better half uses the collection far more than I do, she knows that everything produces more than acceptable results.
Should have kept the mysteries of photography hidden, all those years ago! |
Gez
Tinkerer
Username: Gez
Post Number: 78
Registered: 09-2007
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, May 05, 2009 - 08:28 am: |
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The friendly people at Cameraleather.com may be able to help. |
