I just acquired a Fuji Semi-Lyra, a 6X4.5 120 film folder. It was made in the late 1930's. It looks like it spent the last 60 years in the bottom of a barracks bag. the leather is crumbling, the bellows has a tear, the shutter barely moves at its fastest speed and doesn't move at all in the slowest speeds. The sheet metal has so much surface rust that it is more rust than painted metal. The take-up spool looks like a pre-war film spool (reusable, not disposable) It has black metal rims and a shiny steel core rolled out of sheet metal. Stamped "Fuji" on it. The 75mm Terionar lens actually focuses fairly smoothly, better than most Agfa Isolettes, and the basic mechanical motions such as folding and unfolding still work.

This is a winter's project or more. Any ideas where I should start?

By Winfried on Wednesday, November 21, 2001 - 12:37 pm:

I think you should start with the shutter. Opening a Compur type shutter (with a speed dial on an outside ring, not on a separate wheel) is rather straightforward. Remove the focussing ring from the front lens element and unscrew it, then remove the next lens element. In most cases, there is a ring nut holding the shutter dial and the shutter cam disk. You can remove both without any danger.

Clean and lubricate the clockworks. You can see a Compur type shutter in Henry's Lynx5000E article. I use a solution of some graphite particles in lighter fluid to grease the self timer and escapement clockworks.

Also, you should look for a source for a new bellow. Some sources have been mentioned in a previous thread.