Dacora I Vario shutter markings question

[Luckless]

Good day peoples.

Came across an old Dacora I in good looking shape in a local store for a seemingly reasonable price recently that I figured could make a nice daily carry camera. Whether or not I will actually use it all that much remains to be seen, but I figure it will fit more nicely into a pocket than my Pressman or C330 TLR.

A delightfully simple little camera that looks easy enough to use, but I'm feeling a tad unclear on some of the markings.
Googling so far hasn't turned up anything that has really clarified the points I'm fuzzy on, but it does seem this model came with a surprising range of options.

https://imgur.com/a/mbbukB0 < Photos of the actual camera I have.

Based on my current poking it appears that:
Aperture set by the lever towards the rear of the lens.
Shutter is set by turning the front ring and aligning B (Bulb), 25/50/200 with the black diamond.
Focus I assume is set by aligning the 3.5ft-inf scale with the black diamond.

Points that I'm feeling rather fuzzy on:
1. Meaning of the Red Dot on the Aperture scale just before f/11
2. Red numbered scale going in both directions on either side of the black diamond - 3,5-16
3. Red dots on the distance scale, just past 8 and 32
(And I should stop looking at new to me cameras in middlish to low light... Set screws apparently look oddly like slightly indented black dots that could have some kind of meaning beyond being set screws.)

I'm assuming they're part of a system to remind the user of easy short cuts on estimating things, but I'm drawing a blank on what those might be, and I was hoping someone familiar with them might be able to set me off in the right direction.

Thanks!

(So far the only flaw I've noticed on my new camera is an overly stiff linkage to the shutter button. Spring doesn't want to reliably reset it, or pull it right enough to align correctly when opening, but seems easy enough to push back into place by hand. Not yet sure if it is merely in need of a touch of grease somewhere or if something's been bent, but so far I'm happy with it and looking forward to seeing if I can get any usable photos out of the thing.)

 

[Dan Daniel]

1) Red dot is a sort of simple hyperfocus' system. If you set everything to red dots you should get a good photo from about 15 feet? and beyond- landscape- or from 5-10? feet- portrait. Although I don't see a shutter speed marked with any red.
2) Depth of field scale.
3) Red- again hyperfocus settings. I assume that the '8' is for portraits and the '32+' is for landscape.
Black dots- I can only see one between 16 and 32, and that looks like a set screw to hold the focus ring in place. Are the other two at 120 degrees from this one, three equidistant black holes?

Shutter releases are often tricky on these camera. Small drops of oil at friction points can help. Bending might be required but I'd do it as a last resort unless you are very comfortable with such adjustments because it can go wrong, very wrong. I've found it helpful to find an alternative way to fire a shutter on folders- there is usually a point where you can get a finger in right next to the actual shutter release lever itself ((which looks to be bottom right (looking from top) on your camera)). Watch for getting your finger in the shot! Or a short cable release.

 

[shutterfinger]

This instruction manual http://www.cameramanuals.org/pdf_files/dacora_royal_6x6.pdf appears close enough to be of help.

 

[Luckless]

Black dots, are in fact, set screws. I really should use better light while looking over new to me gear.

Not yet really seeing how to read reliable depth of field off that red scale, but I will give it another shot in the morning after a good coffee or two.

Sadly the shutter and scale markings appear to be different enough that I've not gotten many hints from that manual yet shutterfinger, my camera is a far more simple model than that range finder, but I'll read through it again in the morning as I'm sure I've missed.

Thanks for the help. I might not have all the answers yet, but I'm moving in the right direction. Coffee will surely help.