Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2000/06/13
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]> I certainly cannot speak authoritatively on this but one of the > justifications Leica used when they switched from brass to the zinc > composite top plates was zinc's superior ability to absorb shock. This would > imply that it actually is softer and would dent or mar more easily than a > brass top plate. > > John Collier > >> From: "Steve LeHuray" <icommag@toad.net> >> >>.......it has never been mentioned that brass is actually a very soft metal >> which is easily dinged, scratched or crushed. Zinc is probably better. >> > John, Likewise, I cannot speak from any authority about this subject it is just my impression from my old beat up and dented M2's. Also after installing a motor drive on the brass bottom plate of my Nikon FM2n it became crushed from the tightening down of the mounting screw. And also from my many years experience with sailboats. For example many years ago I installed 8 shiny new brass port lights (windows for those land lubbers). They were 1/4" thick but within two years the brass screws had turned pink and in another year literally turned to dust. I replaced the screws but in two more years the port lights themselves started to crumble. Zinc on the other hand is also used for many boat related things including attaching to the hull below the water line to prevent electrolysis. My only knowledge of these two metals is from holding them both in my hands and the feeling that zinc to be the stronger metal. The port lights on my boat for many trouble free years now are silicon bronze. Steve Annapolis