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Mr_flibble
Tinkerer
Username: Mr_flibble
Post Number: 71
Registered: 10-2011
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, June 24, 2012 - 04:23 am: | 
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I have two 1930s and 1940s box cameras that are in need of some CLA. The only way to get into the shutter is by removing the nails/tacks around the front end of the camera.
Any suggestions on going about this without damaging the leatherette/cardboard too much?
I was thinking about inserting a sharp object between the wooden frame that holds the shutter/film frame and the edge of the exterior and forcing the nails out a little bit before grabbing them with pliers and yanking them out all the way.
But I'd love to hear it if someone knows a friendlier method.
Regards,
Rick |
Glenn
Tinkerer
Username: Glenn
Post Number: 1026
Registered: 07-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, June 24, 2012 - 01:35 pm: |
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The little tool described below was made by my father 75 years ago to aid in the restoration of antique furniture. Since I acquired it many years ago it has helped restore a number of vintage automobile interiors.
Take a 6" length of machine hacksaw blade and grind the teeth off to produce a 3/4" wide metal blank and round off all edges. A 1" long slot is now ground down the center of one end - width of slot is wider than the diameter of the nail and less than diameter of nail head. Now grind on one face/side of the slotted end a long shallow taper, then polish all faces of the slotted end. On no account draw the temper of the saw blade when doing the grinding of the slot and taper.
The tool is NOT used as a lever, it is inserted under the head of the nail/tack and gently tapped with a small hammer so that the head of the nail/tack is lifted out slightly. The tool is then pulled back slightly, to leave the nail head proud but the tool still protecting the material surface under the nail head. Using a properly ground pair of pincers firmly grasp the head and pull the nail STRAIGHT out. |
Mr_flibble
Tinkerer
Username: Mr_flibble
Post Number: 72
Registered: 10-2011
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, June 25, 2012 - 06:44 am: |
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Thanks Glenn,
Your description of the tool reminds me somewhat of on of those brass button polishing tools.
I fear the nail heads have been hammered too deeply into the cardboard to be able to grab it with this type of tool though. |
John_s
Tinkerer
Username: John_s
Post Number: 91
Registered: 07-2009
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, June 25, 2012 - 07:54 am: |
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"I was thinking about inserting a sharp object between the wooden frame that holds the shutter/film frame and the edge of the exterior and forcing the nails out a little bit before grabbing them with pliers and yanking them out all the way." That's more or less how I did it when I was keen enough to try to fix box cameras. I don't think they were designed to be opened! Even with the nails removed it can be tricky to separate the various parts. |
Finnegan
Tinkerer
Username: Finnegan
Post Number: 177
Registered: 09-2009
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, June 25, 2012 - 05:06 pm: |
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Believe of not, I have removed front covers of this type by sticking my finger through the hole of the face and pulling it out. Usually the box cameras you are referring to don't have a lens in front, just a hole so, in that case, my method has worked. Apply pressure on each corner at a time depending on how far in you can get the finger or, if you can figure out a tool, like a flat handle end of a spoon or fork bent just right. |
Mr_flibble
Tinkerer
Username: Mr_flibble
Post Number: 73
Registered: 10-2011
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, June 26, 2012 - 12:55 am: |
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Thanks all,
Finnegan, that might just work for the No.2 Hawkeye B, but not the Coronet Rex, as that one has a lens fixed in a metal bezel to the frontside of the camera. |
Fallisphoto
Tinkerer
Username: Fallisphoto
Post Number: 261
Registered: 09-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, June 27, 2012 - 08:37 am: |
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I've thought of several methods of extracting difficult nails, but I'd really have to see it before I could say which one would work best. |
