Focomat IIc lens mount

[jackbaty]

I picked up a IIc that needs a little work. I only have the 100 V-Elmar (purchased separately) with no way to mount it. I need the bits to which the lens actually mounts and focuses. The attached photo shows what I have. Does anyone know what I need?

 

[Patrick Robert James]

Looks to me like you are missing the focussing helical that the lens mounts in. I see these sometimes on ebay attached to a lens. I don't know if the helical is the same for the 1c, but maybe someone else can chime in.

Here is the Kienzle page with parts for Leitz enlargers. It seems they have whole lens assembly available.

http://www.kienzle-phototechnik.de/...a__IIc__V/leitz_focomat__ic__iia__iic__v.html

 

[Hilo]

I am (almost) sure the IIc helicals are different from the Ic helical. I will look later if I have anything left but I doubt it.

In the mean time you could write Glenn Evans at glenn@glennview.com . . . Very knowledgeable and for sure he will be able to tell you what exactly you are missing. Perhaps he has the parts too. His site: http://www.glennview.com/leitz.htm

I can also tell you to make the screw thread of the helical go into the screw thread of the lens stage can be an experience you will never forget. Never force it !!

 

[Trond]

I may have spare helicals. PM me if you are interested.

 

[jackbaty]

I can also tell you to make the screw thread of the helical go into the screw thread of the lens stage can be an experience you will never forget. Never force it !!

I have a couple of new helicals, thanks to Trond (thanks again!). One of them (the short one) screwed easily into the lens stage. For the life of me I can't seem to get the threads of the longer helical started. I want to force it so badly . Any tips? Should I run a brush over the threads? Grease? No grease? I'm so close to having a working Focomat!

 

[Hilo]

It only seems logic to apply some grease that is good for these helicals. You will find it on the net. And clean well before that, using an old tooth brush and some domestic petrol.

At one point I was talking to a Focomat owner about the difficulty of screwing the helicals into the lens stage and I liked his approach: he put the enlarger on the ground while watching tv and he just kept on trying very gently, going backwards and trying forward . . . sure enough at one point the thing would catch on and almost always without him realising at first . . .

If you don't manage I would try to find a repairer . . . better than forcing it !

 

[jackbaty]

Thank you. I'll try the slow and patient approach first.