Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2000/11/25

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Subject: Re: Vulcanite: [Leica] Friday FS: Nickel + Dime
From: Dante A Stella <dante@umich.edu>
Date: Sat, 25 Nov 2000 12:48:56 -0500
References: <001901c05676$fe5225a0$c41e2a3f@telecaster>

Maybe it's getting re-fused onto the camera when you go into hot weather.

The last chip from mine was spontaneous.  Just yesterday morning I was admiring
how all of the vulcanite had stayed on the back door... and sonofabitch that
night I noticed a chip was missing...

David Kieltyka wrote:

> Dante A Stella <dante@umich.edu> wrote (edited):
>
> > It [Vulcanite] was a poor choice of material - but Leitz
> > was not alone. Konica made their Model I with Vulcanite
> > and it [deterioration] is a chronic problem on that
> > camera, too.
>
> Not to belittle the problems you and others have experienced with
> Vulcanite...but my M2 is still going strong with nary a chip, crack or
> dimple after 38+ years. This camera has been repeatedly exposed to both
> mid-summer sunlight & heat in Upper Egypt and sub-zero mid-winter cold in
> Upper Michigan. It's been in locales as dry as Death Valley and as humid as
> Singapore for extended periods. Maybe I'm just fortunate and my camera is
> covered by a particularly robust batch of the stuff. ?? I just wish
> everything else I own of early '60s vintage were as well preserved. I admit
> to doing a fine job working nose oils into the camera back, but this doesn't
> account for the front also being near pristine. And I try to always wash my
> hands before taking photos too. <g>
>
> I've seen the Fargo material (as Dan Post says it looks just like Vulcanite)
> and will probably opt for it should my M2 ever need a re-cover.
>
> -Dave-

In reply to: Message from "David Kieltyka" <daverk@email.msn.com> (Re: Vulcanite: [Leica] Friday FS: Nickel + Dime)