A conundrum?

[RaglanSurf]

I've got a Voigtlander Superb with Miles at the moment and he's told me that he will pretty much have to destroy the leatherette to give it a full CLA. As most of you know I don't buy cameras just to sit on on a shelf but the Superb does have quite a nice embossed section of leatherette that will not be replaceable. It's a quirky, interesting and quite collectable TLR and am quite aware that the purists out there would hate to see the integrity of camera undermined. I have run film through it so I t does work at the moment but not to its full potential.

What to do do

 

[simon ess]

Which is better, looking "purist" or being used?

 

[Mr Bump]

difficult one that I understand that quite well.
can the leatherette be removed completely prior to work?

 

[RaglanSurf]

Which is better, looking "purist" or being used?

For me being used is the most important but I hate to destroy a thing of beauty.

difficult one that I understand that quite well.
can the leatherette be removed completely prior to work?

Unfortunately not, it's incredibly brittle and wouldn't survive the removal process.

 

[stevelmx5]

Edit - Ignore that, realised yours is a superb!

 

[simon ess]

For me being used is the most important but I hate to destroy a thing of beauty.

Ask @stevelmx5 to work his magic on it.

 

[simon ess]

Haha

We cross posted.

 

[stevelmx5]

Completely unrelated but I shouldn't start looking on Etsy....

https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/221...gallery&ga_search_query=tlr&ref=sr_gallery_30

 

[stevelmx5]

Sorry Nick, just seen this that might be good for your Super 23;

https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/235...lery&ga_search_query=mamiya&ref=sr_gallery_11

 

[robhooley167]

Could always replace the leatherette yourself, embossing leather is not overly difficult

 

[stevelmx5]

^^ good point. Get the "Superb" logo text and cut it out of 2-5mm card/plastic then bond it to the body before applying the leatherette over it. So long as you press the leatherette tightly around the card/plastic and use a strong glue it should keep its' shape.

 

[RaglanSurf]

Completely unrelated but I shouldn't start looking on Etsy....

https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/221...gallery&ga_search_query=tlr&ref=sr_gallery_30

Some sort of F&C gimp mask

 

[RaglanSurf]

Could always replace the leatherette yourself, embossing leather is not overly difficult

^^ good point. Get the "Superb" logo text and cut it out of 2-5mm card/plastic then bond it to the body before applying the leatherette over it. So long as you press the leatherette tightly around the card/plastic and use a strong glue it should keep its' shape.

Definitely worth thinking about, I'll ponder a little more before I make a decision.