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Markus
Tinkerer
Username: Markus
Post Number: 29
Registered: 08-2007
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, February 17, 2008 - 01:44 pm: | 
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I am currently restoring a Ciro Flex Model F and I know I should have looked at Daniel Mitchell's web site before I started...
I got the shutter to run pretty accurately on all speeds, however, in the process of figuring out how the thing works, I broke the blade operating spring (see the sixth image on Daniel Mitchell's excellent Rapax shutter page: http://daniel.mitchell.name/cameras/rapax/rapax.html ). Now the shutter seems to work o.k. without the spring, except in T and B settings, where I have to work the shutter release to get the shutter to close.
Here is my question: Can this spring be made from some type of copper sheet, or is it made of some other material? If it is made from copper, what thickness would I have to buy, and what is a good source for it? Alternatively, does anybody out there have a busted Rapax shutter with a blade operating spring that is still intact? If so, I would be willing to buy or trade it, please let me know.
I would really like to fully restore this camera, since the Raptar lens on it is really nice. I already ran some film through it, yesterday, and I am pretty impressed (see http://flickr.com/photos/wakingsky/sets/72157603928205013/ ). |
Dgillette4
Tinkerer
Username: Dgillette4
Post Number: 162
Registered: 04-2007
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, February 17, 2008 - 01:56 pm: |
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If you are speaking of the main spring it is coil and made of steel. The photo shows a brass retainer and that coulde made of brass shim stock, the right thickness and is available from hhobby stores . Raptar is a very good lens and the Rapax needed very little repairs except for cleaning once in a while. Don |
Markus
Tinkerer
Username: Markus
Post Number: 30
Registered: 08-2007
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, February 17, 2008 - 03:55 pm: |
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It's the brass thingy, I will check at the hobby store, next week. Thanks! |
Mikel
Tinkerer
Username: Mikel
Post Number: 78
Registered: 07-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, February 18, 2008 - 05:40 pm: |
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The Model F is a scarce and fine camera which will produce a quality photograph equal to any Rolleiflex.
I think that all "F"'s were made here in Delaware, Ohio, possibly by my Mom or my Aunt Caroline in the late 1940's. They both worked for Ciro as teenagers.
If the hobby store thing does not work out for you, let me know as I have several Rapax shutters for parts.
The drawback: it could be a while before before I can actually dig them out of my chaotic collection.
Mike |
Markus
Tinkerer
Username: Markus
Post Number: 31
Registered: 08-2007
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, February 19, 2008 - 07:28 am: |
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Thanks Mike for your offer. I will try our craft store, today. |
Markus
Tinkerer
Username: Markus
Post Number: 32
Registered: 08-2007
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, February 24, 2008 - 11:14 am: |
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So I bought some brass shim stock and attempted to make a replacement blade opening spring. As it turns out this spring is originally not made from brass but maybe copper and a lot stiffer than brass. So the brass shim stock route was unfortunately a dead end. I guess I could look for some copper of the same thickness, but it seems that getting the shape of this spring just right is going to be very difficult. It serves two purposes: first, it keeps the shutter blades closed when the shutter is being cocked, and second, when the shutter is tripped, it provides a bit extra boost to the blade opening mechanism to open the blades completely. If the angle at which the spring pushes against the blade opening cam isn't perfect it will only do one but not the other.
I guess I will try to find a replacement spring. If somebody has a Rapax shutter for parts (Mike?), I would be happy to buy it from them. Alternatively, I guess, a Ciro Flex with the 85mm lens and Rapax shutter could be a cheaper parts camera. Judging from Daniel Mitchel's pictures, the Rapax shutter on that camera has the same spring as the one in the Ciro Flex Model F, that I have. |
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