Forgive me if this post is a little on the Leica techie side. I’m not really that much of a Leica nut (although I use them all the time), but it occurred to me that this story might prove useful to someone else. Don’t worry about the swearing and the dark incantations and the vengeful gods of photography. I called them off.
I sent my M7 back to Leica HQ in Solms when it repeatedly jammed while loading film with the motor attached. They sorted this problem out promptly and efficiently, and for free, and sent me a little black washer with the returned camera. There was a note attached saying this was a modification that should be done to the baseplate – which I hadn’t sent with the camera (the winder was attached) – and that it should be self explanatory.
Now I pride myself on being a pretty practical sort of chap, I think you have to be when you work on your own, so without too much fear I got the screwdrivers out. The washer looked the same as an item on the winder that had appeared during its visit to Solms, so I guessed the spare washer was to be used on the baseplate in the same position, and that if Solms had sent it to me without instructions they must be happy for me to fit it, and that it would be uncomplicated to do so.
On the internal side of the baseplate, at the end with the twisting latch that holds the baseplate closed, there is a little cross-headed screw on top of the latch mechanism. On the recently returned winder there was a washer under this screw. All I had to do was undo the screw on the baseplate, place new washer over the hole, and replace the screw. A few twists of the screwdriver and the job was done. Or so I thought.
Since I was using the M7 with the winder the modified baseplate sat around for months, unused. Yesterday I needed the camera in a more lightweight form, so I swapped the winder for the baseplate. The plate was lose when fitted. Problem.
I the end, after considerable head-scratching, extensive use of expletives and much muttering of dark incantations intended to bring down the wrath of all photographic gods on whoever was responsible for such a clearly dumb device, it turned out that the twisting latch had a square hole in the centre, which had to fit over the square spigot coming through the plate from the catch on the outside. Now, in the nature of a square, this had four sides, which meant the latch could be fitted in any one of four positions. You have to find the right one otherwise the latch doesn’t close properly.
Once you realise that it’s not too difficult to figure that puzzle out, but in case you need help, here’s a tip. With the outside catch in the closed position, the gap on the inside twisting latch should face the end of the baseplate. All clear? Jolly good. Now put a film in and take some pictures.
