Got a new dress for the M3 to replace the old and horribly beat up stock vulcanite from http://www.cameraleather.com/. The image is the camera after I stripped it, the top is the new covering. Hoping to get another 30 years out of this thing...
Camera Restoration
Lost In Translation: Autocord Repair Manual...
Disassembly of Front Cover and Shutter Holder:1. Tear off front cover leather -A,B, (2136,2137) take off four setscrews (9004) and the M.X. changing knob (2132) so that the front cover set (219 set) may be taken off.2. Open the back cover and take out the light shield barrel (1034), shutter nut (2141) and shutter and also disconnect the soldered portions.3. Take off successively the focus adjusting washer (2140), reset ring (2020), shutter seat (2017), charge ring washer (2018) and shutter charge ring (2019).Adjust shutter after the shutter being assembled:Charge the shutter with the focusing lever being set at the near or closeup distance. If it fails to be charged, lift little by little the crank arm adjustment plate so as to select the charge point and then check if the reset ring arm is in contact with the shutter lever when the former is charged. Adjust the overcharge at the infinity position and confirm this adjustment at the near position also. If the adjustment is not sufficient, make further adjustment by means of the adjustment plate.
The Reassembly, Part #2
Post Disassembly, the Leica IIIf I snagged off Ebay is starting to shape up. Picked up a 3.5cm f/3.5 lens and a multi-finder off Ebay as well. Up next is to order a new leather covering.If you ever have a camera in need of a new covering, check out cameraleather.com. The web site is pretty dated, but this guy has everything from classic black pebble calfskin to red lizard skin coverings, if that's your bag. It's a pretty simple and cost effective way to bring an old camera back to life.It's difficult to tell from the photograph, but the chrome is pitting badly on most of the top plate, so I'll probably end up stripping the chrome, and re-painting the body in black lacquer. Mechanically the camera is in great shape after I re-built the shutter and cleaned out the 50 years worth of dirt.Have a look through the Leica IIIF tag to see a few images I've shot with it so far...
The Disassembly, Part #1
Leica iiic, factory converted to a iiif. Purchased from Ebay in a non-functioning condition. Stripped the camera, rebuilt the escapement, cleaned and lubed all the gearing, now the shutter fires like butter. Stay tuned for the re-assembly...