Ensign "Popular Reflex" Repair

Ian Grant · May 31, 2017

Hi Owen, yes it is a model made by ICA. Although Houghtons and Butched had merged in terms of ownership in 1915 the parent company keppth the two brands seperate until 1926. Butcher imported many German cameras modified for the UK (and colonies) market as well as manufacturing some of their own and some for Houghtons.

I assume yours is Quarter plate, that would just be a slightly different back compared to a German 9x12 model, it's similar height but slightly narrower.

Yes I can help with curtain material, I'm not sure what I have on the shelf, I'll PM you.

Ian

kamphotog · Jun 3, 2017

Hi,
I just noticed some activity on this thread !
I got my shutter fabric from http://aki-asahi.com/store/html/curtains/shutter-curtain.php It works perfectly (thickness,...).
I never had to ask for sizes larger than their standards but it seems they can make any size on request.

I just got a 3x4 Houghton & Butcher Manufacturing Co Reflex (1915 - 1926) by accident (low bid but got it anyway, and an Ensign Roll film reflex as a bonus). It will need new curtains as they are shredded...

I'm still working on a 3x4 TP reflex (need to find the right ribbons) and on a (Graflex) rollfilm adapter for a 2x3 reflex TP.

I'd love to get some more repair inf
o about these cameras as trial and error is a long process...

Thanks and have a nice day,
Karim

Houghton 3x4 (upgraded to 4x5 Graflok)

Butcher 3x4 (upgraded to 4x5)

Mario Soho 3x4 (upgraded to 4x5)

Ian Grant · Jun 3, 2017

Karim, I have a roll of that shutter cloth and it's not suitable for larger shutters as it's not dimensionally stable once you get larger than medium format shutters, and is definitely no good for long continuous shutters. It stretches.

Ian

kamphotog · Jun 3, 2017

Thanks for the info, Ian. I guess that you're talking about their LF-dedicated fabric...

As I said, I've only used it for 2-curtains shutters, which are not that long. Successfully !
I've read that some used that fabric for their 5x7 Graflexes.... Oo

Karim

Ian Grant · Jun 3, 2017

kamphotog said:
I've read that some used that fabric for their 5x7 Graflexes.... Oo

Karim

I've had this discussion with one of the top repair/restoration people in the US, Frank Marshman and there's no commercial fabric available that's suitable for those long curtain Graflex shutters, the 7x5 Portrait Graflex cameras need around 5ft (1.52m) of material. He tested various materials and in the end had material from me that I use for restoring Thornton Pickard shutters, it matches the original well.

I have the 5x4 version of your Marion Soho Reflex, they were actually made by Kershaw.

Ian

kamphotog · Jun 3, 2017

Ian Grant said:
I've had this discussion with one of the top repair/restoration people in the US, Frank Marshman and there's no commercial fabric available that's suitable for those long curtain Graflex shutters, the 7x5 Portrait Graflex cameras need around 5ft (1.52m) of material. He tested various materials and in the end had material from me that I use for restoring Thornton Pickard shutters, it matches the original well.

I have the 5x4 version of your Marion Soho Reflex, they were actually made by Kershaw.

Ian

Ian,

I yet have to get a 4x5 reflex camera (I have some non-reflex 4x5s)... I like the 3x4 reflexes because I can use some shorter lenses. Like the Hektor 150mm f2.5 I mounted on my Houghton or the AeroEktar I mounted on a Graflex D 3x4...

I'd be quite happy to point tinkerers to you as a source of shutter fabric. Do you have a website or contact info I can point the people I'm discussing with to ?

I started with Graflex cameras as they are more common (more info/contacts about repairing them) but I took the dive into UK reflex cameras some years ago and really prefer their 2-curtains shutter design (except my Butcher Popular, deceptively relying on the useless tension knob... ). Less stress on the spring, so I can get them back to real 1/1000s after all these years... Less fabric involved, too...

The downside is that I'm quite alone with myself repairing them... No manuals, no contacts... I've seen your posts years ago with some broken (when I discovered them) links to useful info...
I'm quite happy 'getting in touch' with another person repairing these wonderful cameras... This evening, I might well change the shutter fabric of the late Houghton Butcher (round speed knob) I received on friday to celebrate !!

Karim

shutterfinger · Jun 3, 2017

I have been using player piano bellows cloth for shutter curtain material. It comes in two versions, nylon backed and cotton backed. Both are available in .007 inch thickness. The nylon backed is preferred and is dimensionally stable length wise. The cotton backed is light grey and the nylon is black.

One can make their own using a suitable base material and coating it with https://plastidip.com/our-products/plasti-dip/ or http://www.goldenpaints.com/products/colors/heavy-body/carbon-black

kamphotog · Jun 3, 2017

shutterfinger said:
I have been using player piano bellows cloth for shutter curtain material. It comes in two versions, nylon backed and cotton backed. Both are available in .007 inch thickness. The nylon backed is preferred and is dimensionally stable length wise. The cotton backed is light grey and the nylon is black.

One can make their own using a suitable base material and coating it with https://plastidip.com/our-products/plasti-dip/ or http://www.goldenpaints.com/products/colors/heavy-body/carbon-black

Where do you get the piano bellows cloth from ?

shutterfinger · Jun 3, 2017

Player Piano Parts Inc., Wichita, Kansas 67214; 316-263-3241
https://www.yellowpages.com/wichita-ks/mip/player-piano-parts-inc-474270834?lid=474270834

kamphotog · Jun 4, 2017

shutterfinger said:
Player Piano Parts Inc., Wichita, Kansas 67214; 316-263-3241
https://www.yellowpages.com/wichita-ks/mip/player-piano-parts-inc-474270834?lid=474270834

Thanks !
As I'm in France, I might try to find some equivalent around here. Do you think these fabrics are common in piano repair supplies ?

If some are interested, I found a french spring manufacturer that can make custom springs. I got a couple for a Thornton Pickard 3x4 rollers...

Karim
PS : I replaced the curtains (with aki-asahi fabric) on the Houghton 3x4 I received on friday. Now the painful adjustments...

shutterfinger · Jun 4, 2017

kamphotog said:
Do you think these fabrics are common in piano repair supplies ?

Only Player Piano and pump organ repair supplies. Its around $100 a yard and 54 inches wide over here.

Hurrah! the site didnot quit responding while trying to make this post this time (3rd attempt).

MickSiris · Oct 24, 2023

kamphotog said:
Thanks !
As I'm in France, I might try to find some equivalent around here. Do you think these fabrics are common in piano repair supplies ?

If some are interested, I found a french spring manufacturer that can make custom springs. I got a couple for a Thornton Pickard 3x4 rollers...

Karim
PS : I replaced the curtains (with aki-asahi fabric) on the Houghton 3x4 I received on friday. Now the painful adjustments...

I’m working on a 3x4 pressman shutter replacement. Any advice on the tension spring adjustment?

Ian Grant · Oct 24, 2023

Do you mean the British Quarter plate 4¼"x3¼" Butcher Pressman, also sold as the Ica "Tudor" Reflex Camera in Germany. The shutter is a single curtain with 3 slits, similar to a Pacemaker Speed Graphic.

I have 3 of these two working a Popular Pressman & an Ica "Tudor", the second Pressman needs repairing. Generally I tension shutters until they are running smoothly at their slowet speeds, and then one half turn more.

Ian

MickSiris · Oct 24, 2023

Ian Grant said:
Do you mean the British Quarter plate 4¼"x3¼" Butcher Pressman, also sold as the Ica "Tudor" Reflex Camera in Germany. The shutter is a single curtain with 3 slits, similar to a Pacemaker Speed Graphic.

I have 3 of these two working a Popular Pressman & an Ica "Tudor", the second Pressman needs repairing. Generally I tension shutters until they are running smoothly at their slowet speeds, and then one half turn more.

Ian

Thank you kindly. It’s not easy finding specs for these.

MickSiris · Oct 24, 2023

Ian Grant said:
Do you mean the British Quarter plate 4¼"x3¼" Butcher Pressman, also sold as the Ica "Tudor" Reflex Camera in Germany. The shutter is a single curtain with 3 slits, similar to a Pacemaker Speed Graphic.

I have 3 of these two working a Popular Pressman & an Ica "Tudor", the second Pressman needs repairing. Generally I tension shutters until they are running smoothly at their slowet speeds, and then one half turn more.

Ian

Any advice on the focusing hood replacement? (My hood was also missing)

Ian Grant · Oct 24, 2023

The focus hoods are different to othe reflex camera I have, They use thin metal panels on the inside of the leather hood to aid folding, I might be able to draw on e for you, but not for a week or so. The hood on my Ica Tudor is in bad condition and I'm contemplating re-building it. Do you have the metal lid ?

Ian

MickSiris · Oct 24, 2023

Ian Grant said:
The focus hoods are different to othe reflex camera I have, They use thin metal panels on the inside of the leather hood to aid folding, I might be able to draw on e for you, but not for a week or so. The hood on my Ica Tudor is in bad condition and I'm contemplating re-building it. Do you have the metal lid ?

Ian

I do have a metal lid. The metal inside the leather makes sense. I was wondering what helped it keep rigid.

awty · Nov 5, 2023

I picked up one this week, managed to free up the curtains and ribbons with the help of some graphite powder. Lubed the gears and it all seems to work again except bulb is like timer, not sure how to fix. Probably not a big problem for me.
Have two different sized lens boards and a copy lens. The only lens I can find that fits is a brass magic lantern lens, so will have to make an adaptor or buy the correct lens.
Doesn't seem to have any light leaks, ground glass and mirror a in poor condition but still usable.
Have four film holders I can use and will cut some sheet film to fit. Have a 6x9 roll film adapter I could fit as well.
Very simple and well designed camera.

Ian Grant · Nov 5, 2023

I must get stuck into restoring all my similar SLRs this Winter. First job is to get new front silvered mirrors, it works out cheaper to have a few made at the same time, the company I use will re-silver an existing mirror or cut new glass. Silver is no longer used instead it's Aluminium.

I have two of these to restore, one badged as a Dallmeyer Press Reflex with a 6" Dallmeyer f3.5 Press lens, also sold as a Dalmac.

Ian

weemuck · Jan 30, 2025

Ian Grant said:
Do you mean the British Quarter plate 4¼"x3¼" Butcher Pressman, also sold as the Ica "Tudor" Reflex Camera in Germany. The shutter is a single curtain with 3 slits, similar to a Pacemaker Speed Graphic.

I have 3 of these two working a Popular Pressman & an Ica "Tudor", the second Pressman needs repairing. Generally I tension shutters until they are running smoothly at their slowet speeds, and then one half turn more.

Ian

Hi There, If you can still see these replies Ian, can you explain how to tension the shutter on the Popular Pressman please?

Regards

Neil Ferguson.

Ian Grant · Jan 30, 2025

Neil, I've not stripped down a Popular Pressman/ICA Tudor, I have two, two are fully functional. There is a spring in the bottom roller, that needs tensioning. Essentially the spindle has to be unlocked, on a Graflex there's slot on the end of the spindle, and you use a screwdriver to turn the spindle anti-clockwise (looking from the back) to increase the tension. Without taking a Popular Pressman to bits I can't give the exact details.

Ian

himself · Mar 1, 2025

Hey Ian,

I've recently been having problems with a sluggish second curtain on my Dallmeyer press reflex, it's only partly closing when set to time and inconsistent on a 15th. Have you ever had this trouble, or know how to possibly fix it?

Thanks, Dafydd

Ian Grant · Mar 1, 2025

Daffyd, there are two different Dallmeyer Press Reflex cameras, One is a rebadged Ensign, the other a rebadged Thornton Pickard. I haven't got around to the Ensign yet. I have two Soho reflex cameras, a 5x4 with movements, and a half plate to restore first.

I have a pile of SLRs quarter plate/9x12 & larger, some are packed away at the moment, the shutter on my Dallmeyer Press needs a lot of work so I can't tell you without tacking it apart.

Ian

himself · Mar 1, 2025

Ian, I think mine is the re badged Ensign, but is usable for now so I'll leave well enough alone I think

Sounds like you have plenty to keep you busy, good luck!

For now the priority on mine is sorting the pin holes in the curtains. Looking for a solution was how I actualy found this thread.

Ensign "Popular Reflex" Repair

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