| Author |
Message |
    
Copefan
Tinkerer
Username: Copefan
Post Number: 1
Registered: 09-2008
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, September 30, 2008 - 01:19 am: | 
|
I've got a boxed Weston Master III had it years and it stopped working years ago. I'd like to get it fixed. It looks mint but it won't pick up... well light. I know I could pick one up on eBay, but i'd like to get this one mended as its been all over the world and its an old friend. can anyone help |
Barnum
Tinkerer
Username: Barnum
Post Number: 66
Registered: 10-2007
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, September 30, 2008 - 12:35 pm: |
|
Hi!
In my experience a selenuim cell, and/or connections, can be reawakened by a THUMP. No guarantees, but it can work. Might need a few!!! |
Karl
Tinkerer
Username: Karl
Post Number: 13
Registered: 03-2008
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, October 05, 2008 - 08:15 pm: |
|
Hello Copefan,I have taken apart a few Weston meters and to be honest if there is no response to light then the meter cell is dead,could be a slim chance of corroded contacts but you will never know unless you open the meter up.I would NOT thump the meter.There are virtually no solder contacts within the meter,only maybe on the needle housing,most electrical contacts are through screws,washers,shims and sping tension and most contacts are multi point,the meters were realy well made.Not realy much chance of anything falling loose under normal use.If you feel handy you could replace the cell yourself ( access via the name plate on rear of meter,you need to take the name plate off )As for replacement cells try
http://www.megatron.co.uk/homepage.html
they can supply a new cell and they have a history which includes Weston meters.
Regards Karl. |
Barnum
Tinkerer
Username: Barnum
Post Number: 68
Registered: 10-2007
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, October 07, 2008 - 10:54 am: |
|
Hello Karl!
It may offend your sensibilities, but the system does work. Not every time of course; a dead cell is dead. Obviously Copefan has an emotional attachment to this particular meter, but for most of us,a duff WM3 is something that can be replaced at a carboot sale. So it is not worth spending much money on, but a thump might wake it up, especially if the malaise has been caused by long disuse.
Obviously one does not drop it onto a concrete floor, or whack it with a five pound lump hammer.
My first try is against the heel of my hand a few times. No success there, means a folded newspaper acting as a cushion of the table. Sure the method is crude, but is has saved items not worth spending much time or hard-earned cash on, from the bin! |
Karl
Tinkerer
Username: Karl
Post Number: 14
Registered: 03-2008
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, October 07, 2008 - 06:13 pm: |
|
Hello Barnum.
No offence taken.However,I am intrigued as to how you came about this technique.Ordinarily this is not the first thing I attempt when trying to fix something.I suppose that if expertise fails then we could always ask Sooty to thump it with his magic wand!
Warmest regards Karl. |
Mndean
Tinkerer
Username: Mndean
Post Number: 89
Registered: 08-2007
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, October 08, 2008 - 12:36 am: |
|
I don't know, Karl. It may be a holdover from the old days when we used to thump our television sets when the picture would suddenly go bad (such a cliché that it often shows up in old television shows). It often worked, so why not try it on other things? |
Barnum
Tinkerer
Username: Barnum
Post Number: 69
Registered: 10-2007
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, October 08, 2008 - 10:32 am: |
|
Hello!
You may recall the Skylab space station,& the time when an astronaut was advised to perform a spacewalk & wallop a piece of kit with a hammer.. I seem to recall, it worked!
Just for the record, a WM5 compliments my Canon A1 cameras.
Regards to all |
Karl
Tinkerer
Username: Karl
Post Number: 15
Registered: 03-2008
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, October 08, 2008 - 06:06 pm: |
|
O.K ,maybe sometimes thumping something does work,it worked for Humphrey Bogart's boat in the African Queen.But I can't condone thumping as a first resort,if this is the case I will think long and hard before I visit the doctor again.But then again babies get smacked when the are just born to make them work or am I just thinking of the movies again.Anyhow all I ask is that any thumping of equipment be used as a last resort if all else fails.I am sure this would not be the first option for N.A.S.A.
Karl :-) |
Barnum
Tinkerer
Username: Barnum
Post Number: 71
Registered: 10-2007
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, October 09, 2008 - 10:55 am: |
|
Hi!
Horses for courses Karl. If you are ailing anytime and by chance paying me a visit, I promise not to bang your head against my desk!
Regards |
Glenn
Tinkerer
Username: Glenn
Post Number: 438
Registered: 07-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, October 09, 2008 - 12:34 pm: |
|
Roger,
Perhaps your favourite repair method stems from a childhood interest in Sooty and Sweep? Seem to recollect a 'good thumping' sometimes played its part in the entertainment. |
Barnum
Tinkerer
Username: Barnum
Post Number: 73
Registered: 10-2007
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, October 10, 2008 - 11:18 am: |
|
Hello Glenn!
Don't claim it to be my favourite method, but I do give it a go with items not worth giving much time or cash to. Perhaps it stems from the time when dear old Dad gave me a well deserved clip around the ear... Or perhaps my memory of the Star Trek episode, BEAM ME UP SOOTY! |
Fred_the_oyster
Tinkerer
Username: Fred_the_oyster
Post Number: 12
Registered: 11-2007
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, April 08, 2009 - 01:46 pm: |
|
The technical term for this activity, for interested parties, is "percussive maintenance"! ;) |
Chiccolini
Tinkerer
Username: Chiccolini
Post Number: 29
Registered: 06-2009
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, July 05, 2009 - 06:44 pm: |
|
Try Marflex for Weston repairs and parts |
Norman
Tinkerer
Username: Norman
Post Number: 23
Registered: 03-2008
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, July 06, 2009 - 04:22 pm: |
|
I had my Weston Euromaster refurbished by Megatron after I had dropped it onto a concrete floor. It was expensive (around £60) but it will be working for years to come. |
M_currie
Tinkerer
Username: M_currie
Post Number: 189
Registered: 07-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, July 06, 2009 - 05:09 pm: |
|
I have heard good things about a place called Quality Light Metric, in Los Angeles. I don't think they have a web site, but if you google you can get contact info. |
Chiccolini
Tinkerer
Username: Chiccolini
Post Number: 39
Registered: 06-2009
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, July 11, 2009 - 09:45 pm: |
|
Quality Light Metric. Yes, that is the place I have been trying to remember. They do have a favorable reputation from what I've heard. |
Harryrag
Tinkerer
Username: Harryrag
Post Number: 87
Registered: 05-2008
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, July 12, 2009 - 04:05 am: |
|
... do they practise the thumping method so highly recommended by first rate experts? |
Tom_cheshire
Tinkerer
Username: Tom_cheshire
Post Number: 137
Registered: 04-2009
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, August 25, 2009 - 09:14 am: |
|
I've always wondered why people still use the Weston meters considering the dials are set for Weston numbers and not ISO film speed.
In terms of selenium meters I personally don't see the reason to use anything other than a Gossen Pilot/Super Pilot or a Sekonic L-358. |
M_currie
Tinkerer
Username: M_currie
Post Number: 194
Registered: 07-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, August 26, 2009 - 08:32 am: |
|
The Master III and IV use ASA numbers and are quite easy to use. Accurate, too, if you get a good one. |
Tom_cheshire
Tinkerer
Username: Tom_cheshire
Post Number: 169
Registered: 04-2009
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, September 08, 2009 - 01:16 pm: |
|
I think the Ranger 9 also is ASA based. |
Graham_austin
Tinkerer
Username: Graham_austin
Post Number: 9
Registered: 10-2010
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, November 02, 2011 - 06:20 am: |
|
The Megatron web site states that they have closed down.
I have found this one though it will cost £70 (in 2011)<http://ian-partridge.com/westonrepair.html> |
Old_school
Tinkerer
Username: Old_school
Post Number: 133
Registered: 04-2011
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, November 06, 2011 - 09:31 am: |
|
Copefan: Do not Thump the unit! Open the unit & remove the light cell, take an old typewriter or ink eraser to the back side of the cell & the contact point as they oxidize from age & the environment, & reassemble. I will mention again as I have before, to be very careful in the handeling of the selenium cells as they are very toxic. The old timers said that if you can find the short on the cell & cut around it the cell will work again. I have not tried this & it kind of scares me to have any dust kick up from them. One of my old bosses had been poisoned by this element three times & I believe it did eventually kill him. Be careful of yellow colored optics in any military optics in particular. I do not think it was common in civilian markets, but once in a while one gets into the market place without any knowledge about the toxic potential. Good luck!
The Best Mike.... |
Buckletrip
Tinkerer
Username: Buckletrip
Post Number: 1
Registered: 11-2011
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, November 20, 2011 - 07:44 pm: |
|
If a light meter is dropped and (by a fluke) hits the deck at a certain angle, then the outer spiral of the hairspring may possibly hook over a solder tag on the coil winding. A similar condition can occur with wristwatches. Knocking is not the answer, as damage to the jewels and pivots will occur. Although a lucky strike may once have freed a jammed meter needle. Reverse thumping may have worked once but it does not follow it will the next time.
The toxicity of modern selenium cells is unlikely as the deposition of selenium on the steel substrate via vacuum sputtering deposits only a molecular layer that is itself sealed under a lacquer coating. The backs of the cells are silvered and removing this by abrasion may cause oxidation and loss of conductivity that the silver is provided for.
It is the cell lacquer that reticlates (crazes) allowing the atmosphere to etch away the electro- conductive layer over the years and the cell gradually loses its sensitivity.
1957 was a good year for Master III cells, possibly the formula of the lacquer used. |
Barnum
Tinkerer
Username: Barnum
Post Number: 214
Registered: 10-2007
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, November 21, 2011 - 12:10 pm: |
|
With all due deference to Buckletrip & the others who object to the 'thump' method, it has happened many times more than once. I also stressed that I use it on items that are not worth spending much time or any money on. Bottom line is that local charity shops have earned a few pounds on items that would otherwise have ended up in landfill. |
Old_school
Tinkerer
Username: Old_school
Post Number: 139
Registered: 04-2011
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, November 21, 2011 - 03:25 pm: |
|
Buckletrip: Thanks for the input. I would still use a little caution with the cells. I think the old radio circuit had a rectifier also that used selenium in them, before diodes, & may have been a higher concentration than the photo cells. Barnum: I can't disagree with you on a thump if all else fails. A late friend had a system of realignment of binoculars by thumping them in the oposite direction with a rawhide mallet. He got real good at it too & a quick 40 to 50 bucks. Not bad! I heard stories of IBM techs being called in on the mainframes & walk over scan the unit & smack it with their fist to solve a problem. I don't want to know what the bill was for that, but left the customer shaking their heads & wallets!
Later all! Mike.... |
Barnum
Tinkerer
Username: Barnum
Post Number: 215
Registered: 10-2007
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, November 22, 2011 - 09:29 am: |
|
Hello Old School.
As the age-old saying goes, ''If in doubt, give it a clout''. This has also worked on various parts of classic cars I have rescued from the last great rusting place. |
