Brownie Hawkeye - any users?

[ChristopherCoy]

What do you guys suggest for cleaning/restoring them? I know to use bike chain lubricant for the internal parts, and soap and water for the glass parts, but what about the bakelite body itself?

Some sites are saying metal polish, others are saying mild abrasives like soft scrub or brasso. I'm thinking soap and water and a sponge, and then some auto wax?

Suggestions? Or should I start a new thread?

 

[ChristopherCoy]

Brownie Hawkeye #1 of 5 has arrived!!

 

[Terry Christian]

ChristopherCoy, I just bought my first one off eBay this past week as well, and received it a couple days ago. I immediately unscrewed the front and cleaned up the lens, viewfinder, and whatnot, with a cotton swab dipped in Windex. Mine's a 3/1960 vintage from the date code. Have fun with it!

 

[ChristopherCoy]

This one is a 05/57 model. I just got back from Walmart to pick up a set of precision screw drivers. I took before pictures and I'm about to set in on cleaning it up.

 

[ChristopherCoy]

Man that is an easy camera to take apart!! Preliminary cleaning is done, even took the clip off the handle and polished the locking mechanism. Now I just need to research bakelite polishing and the outside will be spiffy! Surpisingly there wasn't any rust or anything on the internal mechanics, and everything works fine! I flipped the lens in this one too...

 

[ChristopherCoy]

So Brownie #2 arrived on Saturday, its a 06/56 model.

And Brownie #3 arrived. It's a pre-flash model, and it's a Canadian made baby! By "Canadian Kodak Company LTD."

 

[ambaker]

Rich,

Those are some way cool Hawkeyes. Reminds me of old school hot rods. Hmmmm.... Candy Apple Red, and some pinstripes. Oh yeah...

 

[suttonjp]

I just finished refurbishing a BHF for a Christmas present. I've done a couple in the past, but took extra care with this one. I also did the mini-flash that came with it. It was pretty rough inside but cleaned up like new. The body had an extraordinary amount of mold and grunge inside so I took out the shutter plate so I could give it a good scrub. Had never desoldered the flash contacts before but it, too, was pretty easy. Resolder job looks and works like new. I finished up the gift by replacing the flashbulbs, batteries and film in the original box and tucked an extra 620 spool inside. Should be a nice surprise.

 

[ArtO]

Man that is an easy camera to take apart!! Preliminary cleaning is done, even took the clip off the handle and polished the locking mechanism. Now I just need to research bakelite polishing and the outside will be spiffy! Surpisingly there wasn't any rust or anything on the internal mechanics, and everything works fine! I flipped the lens in this one too...

Beautiful cleanup.

 

[Sirius Glass]

I checked mine and it looks like I could load 120 film and use a 120 spool as the take up spool. I have to get some 120 film.