Romanko
Member
I'm cleaning Agfa Anastigmat Apotar 1:4.5 10.5 cm lens salvaged from an Agfa folding camera (Agfa Billy?). The lens is a triplet. The rear element was easy to remove and cleaned well. The focusing ring did not move at all even after applying considerable force with a friction tool. The front element in its tube is supposed to unscrew easily but this is not happening. It could be damaged, cross-threaded or glued with an old grease. So I removed the scale-ring, the infinity stop and using a lens wrench unscrewed the front and the middle elements together. See photos.
I assume the Apotar is focused by rotating the front element inside the lens tube that holds the middle element. Is this so?
Then, what prevents the middle element from unscrewing from the shutter body as you focus?
Also, what is the safest and easiest way to separate the middle and front elements which currently appear to be glued together?
Shutter assembly with middle and front elements removed.
Middle and front elements removed from the shutter.
I assume the Apotar is focused by rotating the front element inside the lens tube that holds the middle element. Is this so?
Then, what prevents the middle element from unscrewing from the shutter body as you focus?
Also, what is the safest and easiest way to separate the middle and front elements which currently appear to be glued together?

Shutter assembly with middle and front elements removed.

Middle and front elements removed from the shutter.