Dial set Compur shutter

I have a very nice looking Zeiss Ikon Icarette 500/2 folding 6x9 camera with a Compur shutter. I am guessing the camera was made about 1927. The shutter works well at 1/25th and above, but not at the slow speeds, which is typical.

I am looking for some help (web link, etc.) as to how to disassemble the shutter cover and repair the slow speeds. So far I have read that the aperture in this shutter is not made of metal, so soaking the entire assembly in lighter fluid is not recommended.

Also, I did a search trying to find the date of manufacture of this shutter, however, the information I have seen doesn't seem to list the serial number - 162604. Any help with that is also much appreciated.

Never, ever just flush a shutter with lighter fluid! I can't believe this is still going around on the web. Lighter fluid just loosens grime and oil and shit and makes things worse, when the shutter is flooded, the dirt is being flushed into the parts which were fine before, also on the shutter blades, aperture blades and everything. Take the dirty parts out, clean them, lubricate everything that needs lubricating and put it back in. Clean the blades and then you have a nice shutter again. No flooding!!!
Anyway, a dial set compur is quite easy to work on, when I started, I used this manual:
Dead Link Removed
That should do it, even with little experience in shutter cleaning.
You can learn a few things from servicing an older compur, servicing a newer one is easier afterwards.
cheers

Are you sure of the serial number? A number of less than one million would be turn of the century - way before Icarettes were made. See https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BycMFbaY_CsOMVB1NWV1bFVLNTQ/view?usp=sharing

If you have the body number (letter followed by four or five numbers, stamped in the leatherette usually but not always) i can give a date for teh body.

Peltigera,

Thanks for the reply. Yes, I double checked again and that is the number - it is clear. I'll look on the body for a number tonight.

Anfenglin,

Thank you for your help! I have to start somewhere.

David

Shutter serial numbers are rarely listed. Lens serial numbers and camera body serial numbers are the standard for dating cameras and lens in shutter.

We have a dependable list of Compur serial numbers which are very useful for dating where lenses and bodies do not have serial numbers. Also helpful where there is a discrepancy between body and lens serial number dates.

I've always found the Compur/Compound serial numbers match the lens well, sometimes a year or at the most two different, so a bit odd. Is there no lens number ?

Ian

My source for Zeiss serial numbers is A Lens Collectors Vade Mecum. It does not have Compur serial numbers.
I have serviced a few Compur shutters. Start by putting the shutter in a released state, speed at its fastest position, and the IBT selector at T. Remove the cocking lever screws and the cocking lever. Remove the speed dial screw. Carefully lift off the speed dial cover then the various plates under it paying close attention to the position and order of the plates. Remove the IBT selector and wave washer. Pay attention to position of the washers. Remove the screws holding the front cover on then remove the cover. Remove the springs and levers from inside the shutter as needed to insure through cleaning and removal of the main plate from the case. The main case screws are on the back of the shutter case.
Take pictures as you go both before and after removing a part.


This poor shutter had a broken aperture blade. Blades are lacquered paper and had swollen causing binding.

Shutterfinger,

Wow, those are some great pictures of the shutter taken apart. Plenty of fun inside there for sure.

Looks like I can use the information to try this on my own. A great project and worth it to get this camera working properly.

Thanks!
David