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Silversurfer
Tinkerer Username: Silversurfer
Post Number: 2 Registered: 08-2009
Rating: N/A Votes: 0 (Vote!) | Posted on Tuesday, January 26, 2010 - 01:07 pm: |
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Hi Folks, I'm a newcomer to camera repairs, but I have got going, getting my eye in on a couple of Practica's, a Zenit and a Kowa (unrepairable!) All impossible without some tips from Rick Oleson and his invaluable CD. Anyway, I’ve lots of others to sort, eventually! I have just bought for $25.00 from the local charity shop a Periflex 2 camera. It's very clean/unblemished but it rattled! The tiny internal periscope slider was in the body, plus a little 7mm square black metal cover, a similar sized frosted glass square, plus two little spring blades (looks like locating clips). All this had caused one of the blind tapes to unglue from the blind bar, causing it to ruckle up. So I have removed the top, but can't work out where the bits go! I have removed the whole blind box and linkages (luckily in one piece) and reglued the tape so the blinds now fire nicely. I suspect it has been down before (odd marks on some bits) and I think there is some thing missing from the brass spiral down periscope 'dropping mechanism. I can push it down (with the lens off) and it will fly up on firing the shutter. I cannot find any manuals or diagrams and just hope someone has been inside one of these rare Brit.cameras ?any advice greatly appreciated. silversurfer. |
Steve_roberts
Tinkerer Username: Steve_roberts
Post Number: 40 Registered: 07-2006
Rating: N/A Votes: 0 (Vote!) | Posted on Wednesday, January 27, 2010 - 04:58 am: |
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I can't help you, as I've never taken a Periflex apart, though I have one (I think it's the previous model). Undoubtedly one of the quirkiest cameras I've ever run into. I keep on thinking I should run a film through it. Coincidentally, this morning I was looking for something photography-related on the web and came across a collector's club where Sir Kenneth Corfield had given a talk only last year. I wonder how old he is? I'd have thought you got a good deal at $25, even though your camera needs attention. |
Silversurfer
Tinkerer Username: Silversurfer
Post Number: 3 Registered: 08-2009
Rating: N/A Votes: 0 (Vote!) | Posted on Wednesday, January 27, 2010 - 05:20 pm: |
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Hi Steve, thanks for reply, thought I might be on my own! Found the Periflex webpage and note the interesting history, a camera maker in Wolverhampton! It mentioned Sir Ken was still alive and had gone on to manage a range of British companies, must be 90ish! I have taken a lot of CU pics of the guts of the camera, the weird brass vertical spiral shaft alongside the periscope drop carrier is a puzzle. it looks as if there should be a follower of some sort as the spiral rotates as the blind is wound on.As I said,I can poke the drop carrier down and the tiny mirror will reflect the magnified image and pops up when the shutter fires. Anyway, I cannot find a home for the other bits so I have boxed the camera up, The speed adjustments seem to be a series of cams running against the setting disc, all very complicated, so I was quite pleased when I got it all back and it worked at all speeds. Until I get some specialist advice or a parts diagram I will happy to just look at it ! Oh, the lens does'nt seem to reg. it's distance scale properly, like its slipped, it goes past infinity? Anymore Periflex owners in UK? silversurfer. |
Peterclarke
Tinkerer Username: Peterclarke
Post Number: 43 Registered: 08-2006
Rating: N/A Votes: 0 (Vote!) | Posted on Thursday, January 28, 2010 - 06:12 am: |
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The 7mm square black metal piece attaches to the back of the periscope, it should be glued on I think. I've also got a Peri 2 with a few problems,the wind on is jammed, the metal piece isn't attached etc and too am UK based,(London). If you're not too far away maybe we should get together to compare notes/cameras? Peter |
Silversurfer
Tinkerer Username: Silversurfer
Post Number: 4 Registered: 08-2009
Rating: N/A Votes: 0 (Vote!) | Posted on Thursday, January 28, 2010 - 03:19 pm: |
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Hi Peter, so there are at least two Periflex 2's in the UK! Mine is no. 2818506, I'm 200 miles away on Wirral but if there is a way to exchange pics (or direct private email) I have photo'ed the bits inside. A lot of bits are glued, the top and bottom tin covers over the tapes, seen when you remove the lens, (I learnt to my cost when I disturbed one and it fouled the curtain bar and disloged the glued tape end).The three tiny side screws that secure the top cover screw into glued captive nuts, they break free when you try to replace the screws!!! I assume you have got the top off to discover the 'metal piece'? is faulty. I have found a webpage with info on Corfield but need a parts/manual. What does the metal square do? and exactly where about on the back of the periscope does it sit? That just leaves the frosted glass square and clips! Any idea what drives the scope down? unfortunatly virtually nothing can be seen of the brass spiral unless the whole blind box is removed (6 easy accessed screws in back) Which lens do you have? Mine is 1.35/45 polished ally and black inlay fabric, it does'nt reg. inf. position correctly? Oh, according to McKeowwn's guide they are worth $125. to 200.00, so don't drop it! Ted |
Rick_oleson
Tinkerer Username: Rick_oleson
Post Number: 1049 Registered: 07-2006
Rating: N/A Votes: 0 (Vote!) | Posted on Thursday, January 28, 2010 - 07:21 pm: |
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i'd love to have one of those, or just a chance to work on one..... |
Silversurfer
Tinkerer Username: Silversurfer
Post Number: 5 Registered: 08-2009
Rating: N/A Votes: 0 (Vote!) | Posted on Friday, January 29, 2010 - 08:31 am: |
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Hi Rick, that's like Henry Scherer offering to service my old Contax...for free!!! Seriously, you gave me some valuable advice before Christmas, (and your CD). Since then I have 'fiddled/explored' a few expendable cameras to get a feel for the system to work on tiny complicated parts. Our local charity shop has a huge collection of cameras donated and I have spent the childrens inheritance on quite a few oddball makes, the Periflex amongst them. If you are serious about having a fiddle with a Brit.take on a poor man's Leica I'd be happy to post it to you, I'ts not too heavy. I live 80 miles from where it was made, my family came from Wolverhampton, a small town near the centre of England and the history of the Corfield company is facinating. If you are interested let me know, I think I stll have your address (Welsh Christmas card!). I have some pics of inside of camera but prob. seems that no diagrams to see where the 'spare bits' go! Over to you, regards Ted |
Rick_oleson
Tinkerer Username: Rick_oleson
Post Number: 1050 Registered: 07-2006
Rating: N/A Votes: 0 (Vote!) | Posted on Friday, January 29, 2010 - 08:40 pm: |
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Hi Ted! Drop me a note at [email protected] - I'd love to have a go at this. |
Peterclarke
Tinkerer Username: Peterclarke
Post Number: 44 Registered: 08-2006
Rating: N/A Votes: 0 (Vote!) | Posted on Saturday, January 30, 2010 - 02:37 pm: |
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Ted,why don't we BOTH send our P2s to Rick? Mine is complete, bar a piece of leatherette, and worked until I did something out of sequence when it jammed with the periscope in the down position and it was while I tried to get this to go up that the little metal square became detached. My email is [email protected]. Of course Rick may want to work on only one and you are at the head of the queue but it's a thought. I saw a Periflex 1 in the Portobello Road flea market today but I know the seller and didn't bother to ask the price because I know it would have been astronomic.I think he's had it for at least a year but he never reduces his prices so will probably have it in a years time..... Regards, Peter |
Silversurfer
Tinkerer Username: Silversurfer
Post Number: 6 Registered: 08-2009
Rating: N/A Votes: 0 (Vote!) | Posted on Saturday, January 30, 2010 - 04:24 pm: |
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Hi Peter, perhaps it's a good idea, should be able to compare notes as we both have different but related problems. I have sent you a private email and will email Rick to get his view. Regards, Ted |
Highdetail
Tinkerer Username: Highdetail
Post Number: 1 Registered: 10-2012
Rating: N/A Votes: 0 (Vote!) | Posted on Friday, October 12, 2012 - 12:09 pm: |
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Advice please on where to begin with this Agiflex which winds film but does not cock the shutter. see images on http://www.videocentricity.com/agiflex/ Thanks |
Fidji
Tinkerer Username: Fidji
Post Number: 5 Registered: 12-2011
Rating: N/A Votes: 0 (Vote!) | Posted on Saturday, October 13, 2012 - 10:47 am: |
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Hi Highdetail,should start a new thread on Agiflex really but as you are on here maybe I can help.The Agiflex is a British copy of a German Reflex Korelle and has the same fault.I have only just tried to repair a Korelle and although access is easy,the problem is the thin steel cable that connects the winder across to the shutter speed dial.It is very difficult dare i say impossible to replace.The problem is there is no apparent ways to fix the ends without obstructing moving parts.Your Agiflex will possibly have the same fault as most of them do,including the one I have.If you can cock the shutter by turning the speed dial clockwise and the shutter fires ok,it will be this dreaded cable.They make great display cameras though and if like me you find a working one,it will be a rare beast indeed. |
Highdetail
Tinkerer Username: Highdetail
Post Number: 2 Registered: 10-2012
Rating: N/A Votes: 0 (Vote!) | Posted on Thursday, October 18, 2012 - 10:44 am: |
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Thanks for reply, Follow my repair attempts at the same site with the latest pics. http://www.videocentricity.com//agiflex/stripdown.html http://www.videocentricity.com//agiflex/spring.html http://www.videocentricity.com//agiflex/progress.html |
Fidji
Tinkerer Username: Fidji
Post Number: 7 Registered: 12-2011
Rating: N/A Votes: 0 (Vote!) | Posted on Thursday, October 18, 2012 - 11:38 am: |
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Watching your repair with great interest.The fixing of the wire on the shutter dial side has a much better fixing point than a korelle reflex,a nice long groove to fix it in.Will be interesting to see the fixing on the other side.Which end came away?If the fixing both ends is easier on an Agiflex, i might have a go on one of mine with the wire problem. |
Barnum
Tinkerer Username: Barnum
Post Number: 241 Registered: 10-2007
Rating: N/A Votes: 0 (Vote!) | Posted on Friday, October 19, 2012 - 11:42 am: |
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I was lucky enough to find a Corfield 2 with standard lens & 100mm for a tenner at a car boot sale. I love the Heath-Robinson eccentricity of the design. Best of luck Silversurfer. |
Highdetail
Tinkerer Username: Highdetail
Post Number: 3 Registered: 10-2012
Rating: N/A Votes: 0 (Vote!) | Posted on Friday, October 26, 2012 - 03:03 am: |
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The current state can be seen here http://www.videocentricity.com//agiflex/reveal.html which was after I discovered that the leatherette running along the back top behind the pop-up viewer covered two screws. Removing them allowed me to prise up the top to see that three more screws were hidden under leatherette on the side of the shutter speed dial. Now I can see how the brass capstan is turned by the steel wire - still intact, but the design is shit since it seems too easy for the wire to come off the brass pulley. Thats what happened here I think. The top spindle of the speed setting meshes with a set of gears below and there are steel keyways which when turned correctly begin to make the f.p. blind (left one when looking out through the lens) begin to reappear from its hiding place. The right side blind does not appear at all. However now the gears wont turn at all (jammed) using just my fingers to turn the shaft. I am making sure not to force anything, only fingers to test gears. Also the number of gears on the left side film advance seems too complex to just do that, maybe they tension the right side blind to pull it over to the film advance side. So left spring to pull right blind, right spring to pull left blind ??? But the big question is where to go now? At this point I have no idea how or what hides the blind compartments and I fear taking down any more gears until I have an understanding of what relationship they have. If you look at the latest link in this post I have added notes to each picture to try to explain. What would you do next at this point ? Does any of the gearing and pawls look like any other camera? I have never gone this deep before and was originally hoping to just flush the clockwork with lighter fuel but I got where I am and thats that. Frankly I am thinking of somehow adding a manual shutter wind to replace the steel wire which I have heard will always be an accident waiting to happen. Comments? |