Alpa Roto restoration/repair

Bayliss

Member
Joined
Dec 22, 2021
Messages
47
Location
London
Format
Medium Format
I'm restoring an Alpa Rotocamera 6070 and I need to replace a the ring of rubber which moves the film, which has deteriorated on my camera - pictured below are my camera on the left and one in better condition on the right.



Does anyone familiar with these cameras know the thickness of rubber I should use for a replacement? I've contacted Alpa, but they don't have any info.

Thanks!
 

bernard_L

Member
Joined
Feb 17, 2008
Messages
2,032
Format
Multi Format
On the first picture, are we seeing the remains of the old rubber, turned into goo??
Is this a belt, driven by a pulley possibly on the other side of the camera? Or is it just there for proper operation of a friction drive?
From my experience (record players, audio cassette deck) it is sometimes difficult to find a rubber belt of rectangular cross section with the proper dimensions: thickness, width, circumference.
On the other hand, O-rings are specified by only two dimensions: major and minor diameter. It should be possible to find a suitable one. Maybe two or three side by side? Rule of thumb: installed belt should be stretched by 5%. There are several materials for O-rings, some more suitable (elasticity) for use as a belt.
 
OP
OP

Bayliss

Member
Joined
Dec 22, 2021
Messages
47
Location
London
Format
Medium Format

Yes, old rubber turned into goo, and it's just there for proper operation of a friction drive.

I was hoping I could just replace it with a strip of adhesive rubber (something like this: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/321612425946), which could be fitted without disassembling the camera.
 
OP
OP

Bayliss

Member
Joined
Dec 22, 2021
Messages
47
Location
London
Format
Medium Format
bernard_L said:
Might work. Only way to know is to try
Also, might be good to make an oblique splice where the ends meet to help smooth rotation. Or place that at the "ends" of the panorama.
Click to expand...

Ah thanks for the tip, will definitely do an oblique splice
 
OP
OP

Bayliss

Member
Joined
Dec 22, 2021
Messages
47
Location
London
Format
Medium Format
By the way - does anyone know how to set the angle of rotation for the auto setting when taking a picture?

The manual isn't very clear about how to do it
 

Panorider 7

Member
Joined
May 27, 2025
Messages
9
Location
France
Format
Med. Format Pan

It's hard to find the right material. But then I went to a Bikeshop and had some leftover handlebar tape that was the right material that I had cut to size. The rubber is not a driving part of the camera so it just opens and closes the viewfinder . Try to remove the stick leftovers with some thing but NOT aceton. You will find that on the other side in the film holder some of that goo might have clogged the bearings of the film advancement. Be very careful with the cleaning the filmroller. No aceton! further more you may need to replace and cut to size the light seals on the lower side of the camera body just below the roller we can see in your pictures. Best
 

Panorider 7

Member
Joined
May 27, 2025
Messages
9
Location
France
Format
Med. Format Pan
Bayliss said:
By the way - does anyone know how to set the angle of rotation for the auto setting when taking a picture?

The manual isn't very clear about how to do it
Click to expand...

simply line the desired angle marking with the red Dot on the camera head and push start. you need to set the angle each time you make a picture. it will do a 360degree if you leave it at 0 .
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Menu
Log in
Register
Cookies are required to use this site. You must accept them to continue using the site. Learn more…