Leitz Focomat IIC

Wyck

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The two lenses from my Focomat IIc have their serial numbers on the rear of the lenses. There is also a separate number, on the back of the Focotar 60mm, mine has a number 1. I have recently picked up a second Focotar 60mm which has a lower serial number but this has a number 2 on the back. These numbers are quite hard to see, I had to take a photo with my phone and zoom in.

The V-Elmar 100mm only has a serial number, no separate number.

Just wondered, does anyone know what this means?

Thanks
 

Hilo

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Wyck,

Where are these numbers? You mean that the older 60mm has number 2 on it?
 
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Wyck

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They are on the back of the Focotar 60mm. If you look at the back of your lens you will see the serial number and on the opposite side of the serial number is the number I or 2. I looked on eBay and spotted a number 3 on the back of a 60mm Focotar this was a late grey IIc.

I'm just wondering if these are versions of the lens even though the lens supposedly didn't change during the life span of the Iic.

The lower serial number of my lenses has a 2 on it.
 

Hilo

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I will have a look tomorrow evening. I have two of them as well. Maybe compiling a list of them, together with when they were made (Leica forum Wiki) sheds some light on this.
 
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Wyck

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That would be great, thanks.

I only bought a second so that I could get one serviced and see if it makes a difference. I only print 35mm so I should really get a Ic or V35 but I really like the IIC.
 
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Wyck

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Sorry slightly different question regarding the IIC. Does anyone know if the condenser comes apart to clean?

I see there are screws around the housing with the handle but I didn't want to damage anything.
 

Hilo

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Wyck said:
That would be great, thanks.

I only bought a second so that I could get one serviced and see if it makes a difference. I only print 35mm so I should really get a Ic or V35 but I really like the IIC.
Click to expand...

I print most of my 35mm with the Ic or the Valoy II, both giving nearly the same image. But for some images that require total evenness, I use the IIc.

Wyck said:
Sorry slightly different question regarding the IIC. Does anyone know if the condenser comes apart to clean?

I see there are screws around the housing with the handle but I didn't want to damage anything.
Click to expand...

Yes, it comes apart, I have done it more than once. Just remember the steps of dismantling and reverse these when you put back the glass elements.

Put a towel on a table. I use a bowl with warm water and some soap for the dishes. Then I dried with a soft cloth. Make sure there's no dust when you put back the glass elements.

Main worry is these are large and heavy pieces of glass. And remember the flat sides can be cleaned afterwards.
 

Hilo

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Patrick Robert James said:
I wonder if the number is related to the focusing cam.
Click to expand...

Patrick, that I also thought about, but the cams didn't change over the years. I wonder if Leitz used slightly different parts internally that needed to be identified before being replaced.

It is with stuff like this, I miss my friend the Leitz repairer. He would have known. I know another such person (who repaired for the importer) and will ask him. But first I want to have a look at my 60mm lenses.
 

Focomatter

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I just had a look on my Focomat IIc. No serial numbers. No room on the back end (threaded mount end) of the 100, a matt finish on that part of the 60. The 100 is labeled Focotar-2 and the 60 with the unpronounceable code word beginning with D on the other end. Text on both the inside and outside of the front end.
 
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Wyck

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I can understand why the number may have referred to the cam, however the eBay listing (link below) has a number 3.

I have a black IIC with the 100 V-Elmar and 60 Focotar and referencing the serial numbers is dates it to 1970 - 60mm Focotar has a number 2

A grey IIC I have seen with a 100 V-Elmar has a number 2 on the Focotar 60mm. Dates to approx 1974.

A later grey IIC that I have seen on eBay that has the 100mm Focotar, the 60mm Focotar has a number 3 on the back.

Just wonder if this was a subtle revision number on the 60 Focotar as it appears to have gone to a number 3 with the introduction of the 100mm Focotar

I am not sure if this link will work, it's a sold item on eBay and you can clearly see the 3 on the back of the 60mm Focotar.

Leitz Wetzlar Focomat IIc Enlarger Hammer Strike Photo Lab Hammetone Enlarger | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Leitz Wetzlar Focomat IIc Enlarger Hammer Strike Photo Lab Hammetone Enlarger at the best online prices at eBay! Free delivery for many products.
www.ebay.co.uk
 
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Wyck

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I've cleaned my condenser, thanks Hilo for the tip.
 

Hilo

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Wyck said:
I've cleaned my condenser, thanks Hilo for the tip.
Click to expand...

Good !!

---

Here my 60mm Focotar. I was wrong, I have only one as I gave the second away . . . Same story more or less: the serial number indicates 1969 and the 2 is clearly visible.

I will ask some people, but I have little hope about them knowing the answer.


 
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Wyck

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Thanks Hilo, it'll be interesting to hear if anyone knows the answer.
 

Focomatter

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Mine looks quite different! Also shot mounted on IIC with lens positioned to show code word on 60.
 

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Hilo

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Haven't heard back yet from the former Leitz repair guy(s) . . .

In the meantime, I think (but have nothing to base it on) these numbers identify the specific rings that were used to open and close the lenses. I also see 6cm (instead of mm) lenses for the earliest IIc's that have this one digit number. That makes the production time span at least 30 years. A lot changes in 30 years, both parts and their tools. These one digit numbers can therefor also refer to specific tools.

Just guessing . . .
 

asota

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After chancing across this thread, out of curiosity I had a close look at my early Focomat IIc and its two Focotars - a 6cm f4.5 (1957) and a 9.5cm f4.5 (1956). I have nothing substantive to add to the discourse except the images of the rear of both lenses with serial number and accompanying mystery single-digit number. The 9.5cm lens comes with an asterisked serial number, making it a possible duplicate.

Re: the mystery single-digit number, I wonder if it indicates the actual focal length of the lens, as opposed to the given length. So, the number "3" on the 6cm lens would translate to an actual focal length of 6.3cm, while the number "2" on the 9.5cm lens would make it an actual 9.7cm lens. I vaguely recall that this or some similar methodology was employed by Leitz when marking their (I think) their 50mm M lenses many moons ago.

Thoughts?
 

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skahde

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As I am currently cleaning and setting up a black IIc, which found it's way into my home just this week, I can also check the lenses that came with it. In addition I will measure the diameter of the easily accessible uper roller as Leitz supplied these as a spare-part in 0.2 mm increments. Given the age of this thread this may take some time, but maybe if we collect more data we will find a coincidence.
 
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