Folder MADNESS!!!

mirrorslap · Aug 16, 2005

Tom Hoskinson said:
jking said:

Try Jurgen Kreckel at: http://www.certo6.com/

Jurgen can replace the bellows and CLA the shutter, etc. on your Ikonta B. He does excellent work.

Click to expand...

It would appear so.
I purchased a camera from him. When it arrived, I was thrilled; it looked beautiful, worked smoothly; then I held it up to my eye. The viewfinder was all brown with cigarette (?) smoke(hard to focus), and the whole camera smelled of smoke. Neither of these conditions were mentioned in his auction, which I find is unusual. Most sellers will mention smoke in an auction.
He also asserts that "99.999"of Agfa Isolettes require a new bellows. I purchased an Isolette III(not from him) , and the bellows are as tight as a drum, takes great pictures, no light leaks. Wow, I must be lucky, for once.

Tom Hoskinson · Aug 17, 2005

Interesting, I am quite allergic to all forms of tobacco - including smoke. I have had 3 cameras repaired by Jurgen, including a bellows replacement on a Super Isolette. No signs of tobacco smoke on any of them.

I have several Agfa Isolettes - most of them had (or still have) holes in the bellows.

Donald Qualls · Aug 17, 2005

I think what mirrorslap is saying is that while Jurgen serviced the shutter and possibly replaced the bellows on the camera, he didn't open and clean the viewfinder or clean/replace the body covering, which would have removed the smell...

I've heard a couple similar things about Jurgen in the last few months -- I have to wonder if a) he isn't getting swamped or trying to move more volume to keep up his income, or b) he might be a smoker himself and simply unable to notice the smell on a camera (though that doesn't explain the smoke contaminated viewfinder). If true, it'd be a shame to see such a careful, gifted worker letting down his standards in order to make a living...

Tom Hoskinson · Aug 17, 2005

Points well taken, Donald.

mirrorslap · Aug 17, 2005

Yes, thanks Donald. I don't want to "down" Mr. Kroeckel, actually; in fact , he is responsible for my newfound appreciation for folding cameras of the '50s. I think he knows his business, and does a great job of restoring cameras.
I guess I was just disappointed to find the camera in such a state - the smoke film is bad enough to make the rangefinder hard to use; after seeing all the great pictures of Jurgen's restorations, I was dismayed that the camera I have was "not 100%." (I mean within the limits of possibility.)
The camera takes great pictures, and I love to use it. I would still recommend his work to anyone wanting to get into folders; I just wouldn't "unconditionally" recommend him, if you know what I mean.
If you have a folder that needs work, DO send it to Jurgen, I do not think that you will be sorry; just be appraised of the possibilities.
The situation is similar to buying something on ebay - if a seller has 100 feedbacks, and 95 of them are positive, and 5 are negative (and dispersed over time), should you buy something from that seller? Yes- it will probably be OK, BUT you may get something else. You pays your money...

Tom Hoskinson · Aug 17, 2005

mirrorslap said:
Yes, thanks Donald. I don't want to "down" Mr. Kroeckel, actually; in fact , he is responsible for my newfound appreciation for folding cameras of the '50s. I think he knows his business, and does a great job of restoring cameras.
I guess I was just disappointed to find the camera in such a state - the smoke film is bad enough to make the rangefinder hard to use; after seeing all the great pictures of Jurgen's restorations, I was dismayed that the camera I have was "not 100%." (I mean within the limits of possibility.)
The camera takes great pictures, and I love to use it. I would still recommend his work to anyone wanting to get into folders; I just wouldn't "unconditionally" recommend him, if you know what I mean.
If you have a folder that needs work, DO send it to Jurgen, I do not think that you will be sorry; just be appraised of the possibilities.
The situation is similar to buying something on ebay - if a seller has 100 feedbacks, and 95 of them are positive, and 5 are negative (and dispersed over time), should you buy something from that seller? Yes- it will probably be OK, BUT you may get something else. You pays your money...

Did you write or email Jurgen and make him aware of the condition of the camera's viewfnder? If not, it's worth a shot.

Ole · Aug 18, 2005

My finest folder (Zeiss Ikon with Tessar T* lens) was totally gummed with "tar" when I got it. It seems it had been on display only in the home of a pipe smoker. Looking through the lens it was brown! The shutter was sluggish, the leather sticky and so on.

I took it with me to work in the North Sea and cleaned everything with alcohol, ether, trichloroethane and acetone. Now it's like new - totally pristine. Very cheap at about $35.-!

P C Headland · Aug 18, 2005

Folders are just great. Small, light, easy to carry and decent sized negatives.

Somehow I've ended up with another one - a Zeiss Ikon 524/2 6x9 with UCRF. It's in gorgeous condition, and judging by the roll hanging to dry, works well too.

It will sit alongside the Franka Rolfix II, Moskva V, Agifold, Iskra I, & Iskra II

Paul

Paul Sorensen · Aug 30, 2005

Well, I have gone and done it. I bought a 6X9 Nettar on eBay for about $20 including shipping. Not even sure if it works. It has the relatively cheap f/7.7 lens and appears to be an early one. Zone focusing, of course.

I will let everyone know how this turns out. I am afraid that this might be the beginning of another addiction.

Donald Qualls · Sep 1, 2005

Paul Sorensen said:
I am afraid that this might be the beginning of another addiction.

If you're lucky...

Paul Sorensen · Sep 1, 2005

The camera showed up yesterday. The camera is actually a Bob 510/2. That dates it to about 1934 or thereabouts. The lens says Nettar on it, but the camera leather is stamped Bob. I have checked on the web and apparently this is what the earliest models were called. I shot a roll today, but have yet to develop it, so we will see what the photos look like. The condition was amazing, it looks like it hasn't been touched in years. The take up spool inside was a very old metal one. I will let everyone know how it works out for me.

Paul Sorensen · Sep 2, 2005

Here is my first print from the new folder.

(there was a url link here which no longer exists)

I am loving it so far, but I noticed that a few of the images had what looks like a mess of hair on them. It appears on the first and second frames and then on another one later in the roll. I think I need to hose it down with air and see if that takes care of it.

Donald Qualls · Sep 3, 2005

That's junk inside the bellows, most likely. Wrap a loop of masking tape, sticky side out, around your fingers and wipe them around the inside the bellows after your air blowing, to pull out the hairs that are stuck a little too well for air (and be very, very careful with the air, that you don't damage the bellows).

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