air activated shutter speed?

[Brad Bireley]

I have a Wollensak Velostigmat series II f/4.5 12inch lens in an air activated shutter. How do you know what your shutter speed is?
Thanks!
Brad

 

[AgX]

Use the barometer...

Seriously:
I only know the Compound shutters and they got a shutter-time scale at the circumference of the setting dial.
With a mark at the top of the shutter.

 

[Arklatexian]

I have a Wollensak Velostigmat series II f/4.5 12inch lens in an air activated shutter. How do you know what your shutter speed is?
Thanks!
Brad

I have never seen inside (or even pictures of the insides) but it is my understanding that a small piston moves back and forth in the barrel mounted on top of the shutter. To try to answer your question, I would set the shutter on time, open it and count off the seconds. I would not trust its accuracy unless someone who knows what they are doing would do an overhaul and then show you how to use it.....Regards!

 

[Rick A]

I don't know for sure, I think most mechanical shutters set to "I" and Packard #6 shutters(with pin inserted) are around 1/25 sec.

 

[shutterfinger]

It will help to know which shutter you have so go to http://www.cameraeccentric.com/info.html , scroll down to near the bottom of the page and look through the Wollensak catalogs until you find the shutter. The 1903 and 1906-1907 catalogs show 6 air cylinder shutters. The 1912-1913 catalog is the earliest one to list the Velostigmat Series II f4.5 and still shows the Skyshade shutter, all other air cylinder shutters have been replaced by dial type shutters. All of the air cylinder shutters have a speed selector of some type at the top center.

 

[Jim Noel]

My Heliar is mounted in a Compound shutter which is timed by an air piston. It is the most accurate shutter I have, including many Compur, Acme, and Copals.
The piston and cylinder are very clean, but never oiled.

 

[BrianShaw]

My TBI shutter of that era is 1/50 after overhaul

It will help to know which shutter you have so go to http://www.cameraeccentric.com/info.html , scroll down to near the bottom of the page and look through the Wollensak catalogs until you find the shutter. The 1903 and 1906-1907 catalogs show 6 air cylinder shutters. The 1912-1913 catalog is the earliest one to list the Velostigmat Series II f4.5 and still shows the Skyshade shutter, all other air cylinder shutters have been replaced by dial type shutters. All of the air cylinder shutters have a speed selector of some type at the top center.

 

[tessar]

If this is redundant, please excuse. I have a Xenar 250mm mounted in a Compound shutter and have learned two things: Before operating in the Bulb or Time mode, NEVER cock the shutter. If it is cocked, breakage may/will result. Also a handy hint, courtesy of E. von Hoegh: "If the shutter speed is a long one, wait 10 or 20 seconds after cocking before tripping the shutter, this lets the pressure in the timing cylinder equalise."

 

[oscarjpink]

I think that the piston and cylinder are dirty. You can clean them and try again.

We should clean this equipment weekly.