1940 Leica IIIC

[tjaded]

Hi all--
Tonight I was lucky enough to get my hands on a 1940/41 Leica IIIC with a 5cm Summitar f2! It turns out it is a red shutter curtain model. I'm very new to the Leica world--I have heard about the red curtain but don't know too much about it. Is there a reason one curtain is red and one is black? The camera is very clean and original. It was brought back from a G.I. stationed in Germany, I bought it from his niece who found it in a box of his things after he passed away. I know IIICs are pretty common, but I seem to remember that the red curtain is somewhat rare or something. Anyway, any info would be appreciated. I'll be hunting around online in the mean time!
Thanks,
Matt

 

[georg16nik]

I got 1940 IIIc, red curtain. 365*** + Elmar. The shutter is very smooth, like on Leica I.
The red (more like pink now) is on the side of the curtains facing the lens when the shutter is released, the other side is black.
Its a different material than the later IIIc and also different that II, it kinda remind the I from 1930 that I have.
This, from my gallery here was shot with it:

 

[Trask]

Here's one site from a google search on "leica red curtain":

http://sites.google.com/site/ldtomei/leicaiiicredblind1941-42

 

[tjaded]

The shutter is a little slow...I'm kind of afraid to get a CLA for fear of them telling me the shutter curtains are bad!

 

[georg16nik]

The shutter is a little slow...I'm kind of afraid to get a CLA for fear of them telling me the shutter curtains are bad!

Yep, they would rather charge You for new curtains even if its not needed. A lot of the red curtains and even some K have been lost in such way.
Excercise the shutter a bit on all speeds, the slow ones might lag under 1/15..
If its with the original lubricants, then some excercising should help.
If the curtains are not stiff, then change is not needed. You might wanna bring it to local qualified technician to open the shell (6 screws) to check the curtains front and back, while You are there, it takes 2 minutes.

On mine, the slow speeds gear needed cleaning only once since 1940.

Good luck and have fun!