[Leica] IMG: Early Flash Adaptation by E. Leitz N.Y.

[afirkin at afirkin.com (afirkin at afirkin.com)]

fun run through history. Love the ending shot showing it all worked ;-)

> My first Leica was bought, used, from Salem Camera Shop in Dayton, OH, in
> 1952.  It was unusual, because it had been adapted for flashbulb
> synchronization by E. Leitz N.Y.  Though I sold the flashgun to another
> list member, I still have the camera and synchronizer.
>
> The synchronizer is built into a special baseplate.
> http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/OldNick/Leica+IIIa+with+Flash+Synchronizer.jpg.html
>
> The wheel on the bottom of the shutter shaft was modified by the addition
> of a milled slot.
> http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/OldNick/Slot+in+Shutter+Post+Wheel.jpg.html
>
> The two parts were synchronized by a pin on the rotating part of the
> synchronizer.
> http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/OldNick/Connecting+Pin+to+Synchronizer.jpg.html
> This pin fit into the milled slot, and the two parts could only be joined
> with the shutter released.
>
> The synchronizer had a slide adjustment that was used to match the sync to
> the shutter speed in use.
> http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/OldNick/Slide+Adjustment+for+Shutter+Speed.jpg.html
> The red line corresponded to 1/200 of a second.
>
> Each unit was customized for the camera, and the camera serial number was
> inscribed on the unit.
>
> I used this system for a number of years, and it never failed to deliver.
> Here is a Kodachrome shot with fill flash, from 1953.
> http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/OldNick/Cigar+Box/Donna02sm+53.jpg.html
>
> The Christmas Season always brings on nostalgia. ;~)
>
> Jim Nichols
> Tullahoma, TN USA
>
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