Falling plate camera shutter faulty.

[Mogsby]

I've been restoring an old Midg falling plate camera that takes 1/4 size plates plates but have an issue with the shutter.
The shutter seems to be firing at one speed rather than 25th,50th and 100th. I'd really like to get the shutter firing at all speeds. Does anyone have any knowledge of these shutters? Any help/advise would be greatly appreciated.

 

[BrianShaw]

That looks like an improved version of a “Kodak TBI” shuttered that I occasionally use. Check that upon re-assembly the timing slider correctly mates with the mainspring (coiled spring, I think) lever. The speeds, as I recall, are nothing more than a change of mainspring tension.

It’s been a long time since I’ve been inside mine as it overhauled quite nicely into a reliable, albeit rather crude, shutter.

 

[Mogsby]

Hi Brian,
Many thanks for your reply.
I see how it works now!. So that short tab moves the lever. I had a little play at adjusting the spring tension, but not much luck. Maybe the spring needs replacing.

 

[BrianShaw]

Put a bit of grease on that sliding surface and the adjustment ring... and be thankful you get any difference in shutter speed at all. I really doubt that those shutters ever performed even close to to the advertised speeds.

I’m assuming that you already cleaned and very lightly lubed the pivots on the levers.

Mine gets soo close to 1/50 on the “instantaneous” setting and I can get a reasonable exposure... but I’ll never measure it. I probably couldn’t handle the truth!

 

[Mogsby]

I've not touched the pivot points yet, but will clean and lube them lightly as you suggest..

Cheers