AGFA BILLY COMPUR

[anthonym3]

I have purchased an AGFA BILLY COMPUR 105 4.5 SOLINAR,lens serial number 50792.Can anyone help me to find the year made?

 

[Dan Daniel]

Any serial number on the shutter block?

http://motamedi.info/serial.htm

 

[anthonym3]

Any serial number on the shutter block?

http://motamedi.info/serial.htm

It has not arrived yet,purchased online auction,should arrive by 6-18,I can check then

 

[anthonym3]

It has not arrived yet,purchased online auction,should arrive by 6-18,I can check then

Dan Daniel,i rechecked the photos on the online auction,number on the shutter is 0039820

 

[JPD]

That serial number doesn't sound right. The Agfa Billy Compur was made in the 1930's and early 40's. I doubt that you can use the camera right away because the bad bellows material they used back then almost always have pinholes.

 

[Peltigera]

Many Compur shutters have serial numbers starting with 00. I have always assumed they were special orders for large customers.

 

[anthonym3]

Many Compur shutters have serial numbers starting with 00. I have always assumed they were special orders for large customers.

 

[anthonym3]

here are photos of the BILLY COMPUR

 

[anthonym3]

here are photos of the BILLY COMPUR

I had anticipated bad bellows. Does anyone know where to have it replaced at a reasonable price?

 

[anthonym3]

I had anticipated bad bellows. Does anyone know where to have it replaced at a reasonable price?

I'm trying to post need photos.bear with me,at age 79 I have some difficulty using a sm

 

[anthonym3]

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I'm trying to post need photos.bear with me,at age 79 I have some difficulty using a sm

I tried taking cell phone photos of the auction site but it's not working. I'll post more photos of the camera when it arrives.

 

[anthonym3]

AGFA has arrived.Excellent working and cosmetic condition except where one owner taped something to the back. Amazingly no pinholes in the bellows! The tape is very old no telling how to remove the glue residue,does anyone know what solvent will or will not damage the covering?

 

[anthonym3]

UH OH problem. Shutter was working well until I tried the delayed timer,now shutter will not fire and cocking lever is stuck,what to do?

 

[Dan Daniel]

By any chance is there a selection for M or X sync? If so, see if it will move to X.

Can you apply light pressure to the self-timer lever or cocking lever to see if it will wind down with some help? 'Firm but gentle.'

 

[anthonym3]

No M X synch,tried pressure no movement.

 

[Dan Daniel]

Is it still on 'T'? Will it move offf of T?

One thing that will probably kick the self-timer into finishing its cycle is some lighter fluid. Go to the drug store and get a small cannister of the Ronsonol liquid lighter fluid (not an aerosol butane or propane). Do some tests over the sink of opening the little spout and getting a couple of drops to come out. Now hold the shutter vertical, so the fluid will run out the side, not slosh around at the back edge of the block. Put the cocking lever at about 3 o'clock and put some drops in so that it runs to 4 and 5 o'clock (not 1 or 2 o'clock) looking from the front of the camera. This might get a little fluid into the self-timer mechanism and give it the lube it needs.

All in all self-timers are dangerous to pay with on old cameras.

 

[JPD]

This is a pre-war camera so it doesn't have flash sync at all. On this Compur you cock the shutter and move the selftimer button back and then use the cocking lever to cock the selftimer. Then you use the shutter release to start the selftimer. The cocking lever moves, and if it hangs you can help it move by putting pressure on it, as Dan says. The cocking lever and selftimer will not work if the shutter is set to T or B.

Is it still on 'T'? Will it move offf of T?

One thing that will probably kick the self-timer into finishing its cycle is some lighter fluid. Go to the drug store and get a small cannister of the Ronsonol liquid lighter fluid (not an aerosol butane or propane). Do some tests over the sink of opening the little spout and getting a couple of drops to come out. Now hold the shutter vertical, so the fluid will run out the side, not slosh around at the back edge of the block. Put the cocking lever at about 3 o'clock and put some drops in so that it runs to 4 and 5 o'clock (not 1 or 2 o'clock) looking from the front of the camera. This might get a little fluid into the self-timer mechanism and give it the lube it needs.

All in all self-timers are dangerous to pay with on old cameras.

Tiny droplets of naptha/Ronsonol on the axles of the shutter/selftimer gears is often enough and less risky. A tiny amount of a light oil on the axles can work as well. Just let it sit for a couple of seconds and wipe the excess off with a tissue.

 

[Dan Daniel]

Tiny droplets of naptha/Ronsonol on the axles of the shutter/selftimer gears is often enough and less risky. A tiny amount of a light oil on the axles can work as well. Just let it sit for a couple of seconds and wipe the excess off with a tissue.

My suggestion involves not opening up the front of the shutter block. Yes, it is much better to remove the lens and focusing system and open up the shutter to apply any cleaner and lube. Maybe a couple of drops using an opening in the shutter will find its way to the right axle and free the self timer. And then he wil know the dangers of old self timers.

 

[anthonym3]

There is a new problem,the delayed timer now works but shutter cannot be cocked ,delayed timer engages when attempting to cock the shutter. I am only going to use the camera for landscapes on a tripod.Will the delayed timer cause camera shake? Should I decide to have it repaired can anyone recommend a repair person?

 

[anthonym3]

I should have stated shutter cannot be cocked to be released normally delayed timer engages immediately.

 

[Dan Daniel]

So have you run any film through this camera? Any ideas if the bellows are ok? No sense spending money on fixing a shutter if you then find that the bellows are defective. Go into a dark room with a flashlight and the back open. Wait a few minutes, put the flashlight inside the bellows. THEN turn on the flashlight so you don't blind yourself and lose your dark sensitivity. Move the flashlight around inside the bellows looking for dots of light. Especially the seams. Shine light at a variety of angles.

That Solinar is a nice lens so having a working version of this camera is good for landscape and such. But this might be a good time to step back a minute.

Drop an email to Paul Ebel and see if he has any interest in working on it. He's very good at shutters, and knows a variety of cameras.- paulebel44@yahoo.com

And I still recommend getting a few drops of lihgter fluid into the mechanism. Might just loosen up whatever is stuck.

 

[anthonym3]

Dan I used lighter fluid which loosened the shutter.While it was jammed on delayed timer I changed the shutter speed to 250 that is when it began to go into delayed timer on it's own.I checked the bellows in a dark closet with a flashlight they are light tight no light leaks.

 

[JPD]

Don't change the shutter speed while the shutter is cocked, and don't use the selftimer when the shutter is set to the fastest speed.

 

[anthonym3]

JPD too late I changed the shutter speed that is when the shutter would not cock and fire in the normal way. I think that something either was bypassed or broke when the shutter speed was set to 250.When I try to cock it it goes directly into delayed timer. It may not present a problem however since I will use the camera only for landscapes on a tripod. It does fire at correct speeds via the delayed timer.

 

[Dan Daniel]

JPD too late I changed the shutter speed that is when the shutter would not cock and fire in the normal way. I think that something either was bypassed or broke when the shutter speed was set to 250.When I try to cock it it goes directly into delayed timer. It may not present a problem however since I will use the camera only for landscapes on a tripod. It does fire at correct speeds via the delayed timer.

Well, then sounds as if you are set for your first test roll! The shutter does fire, with delay. Speeds other than 1/250 are working.

I would get the tripod out and shoot a roll. Any new camera and format has a lot of elements involved in actually using it. Might as well start getting the whole picture, so to speak, of what you have gotten yourself into here.

One thing- with the 6x9 folders it is good to open the camera slowly. If you let a folder spring open, it creates a vacuum inside the bellows and the film can actually be pulled off of the film plane. All in all 6x9 on a tripod is slow all around; if you like this way of shooting you'll love 8x10- darn near comatose.

Oh, the lighter fluid will also remove old tape residue. Light amount on a clothe or tissue, wipe gently and slowly. Keep checking to see if it is starting to dissolve the covering itself or removing the black coloring. All in all naphtha is a good cleaner for things like this because it isn't prone to attack plastics and paints.