Leica III and Leitz-New York SELSY flash

Dear collectors and photographers

 

I'm an owner of a Leica IIIa and I like to shoot with this pre-war camera.

I like taking photos during dance events, too, so I bought a SELSY flashgun made by Ernst Leitz-New York on ebay.

 

Everything good but one issue comes: if I put on the flash on the camera, removing the original camera bottom closure, the flash special bottom has to be tight only half turn of the knob to allow the shutter a proper functioning.

If I close completely the knob (where is written open-close with arrows) the shutter doesn't works (it doesn't "click").

 

If anybody can helps me or found the same issue I'll be grateful. I know my english looks imprecise but that's my best...

 

Thanks in advance

 

Massimo

Edited January 3, 2021 by massimomulè

I believe the flash bottoms for early IIIs were marked with the serial number of the camera to which they had been fitted. At least the flash bottom I have has a serial number inscribed inside. I've never tried it on my camera which has a different serial. I'll do that and see if it works.

I believe the flash bottoms for early IIIs were marked with the serial number of the camera to which they had been fitted. At least the flash bottom I have has a serial number inscribed inside. I've never tried it on my camera which has a different serial. I'll do that and see if it works.

Thanks, so misalignment originate from a bespoke Selsy bottom set on the single camera?