Help with folder (home sick with too much time to eBay)

Randy_Va · Oct 23, 2009

Due to being home sick I now have a a poor condition folder (Universal Roamer II) for 10 bucks as my first repair project and a cheap (slightly damaged) vivitar 70-210 zoom for my Pentax 35mm SLRs on the way.

I think I may need an intervention (or to get back to work).

Anyway, for the on topic question. For the most part the Roamer is a more trouble than it is worth camera. But looking at it as one where if I screw up while trying to repair and replace that I won't be unduly concerned.

Any references to sites or posts to assist in temporarily repairing pin-holes, taking apart and cleaning lenses, shutters and apertures would be great. Feel free to tell me it isn't worth the effort if you want, I know but will be a learning experience for looking for a better folder to get working.

canonman · Oct 23, 2009

You know this forum? http://www.kyphoto.com/cgi-bin/forum/discus.cgi?pg=topics

ntenny · Oct 23, 2009

I've had some luck using liquid electrical tape for bellows pinholes. It won't replace a really large area of damaged fabric, but with the typical "small holes at the corners" degradation, it seems to work OK. I apply it with a toothpick or an extremely fine brush. Just don't inhale the fumes, and give it plenty of time to dry with the bellows extended before you collapse it.

The manual for both the Roamer and the Roamer II is available at Dead Link Removed
but may not be of much use. It looks like the Roamer II has a Synchromatic shutter---I assume this is the same shutter made by Rapax and commonly found on various press cameras. The model dissected at http://pheugo.com/cameras/index.php?page=rapax
looks newer but might be similar enough to act as a guide...or not; use your own judgement, I guess.

Actually, from the information in the manual, it seems like you might have a decent basic 6x9 folder here, if you can get it in working order.

-NT

Randy_Va · Oct 23, 2009

Great resources, thanks!

I can't wait to get it in my hands and see how far gone it is. The auction claimed that the aperture and shutter "seemed" to be working. ;-) Who knows what that means.

Ralph Javins · Oct 27, 2009

Good morning, Randy;

Tomosoy's books on camera repair make a fine foundational library for camera, shutter, and lens repair. The guys at Microtools www.micro-tools.com (note the hyphen or dash in the middle) will have most of the basic small hand tools needed to begin repairs of this kind. Getting the small Japanese style "Phillips" screwdrivers is really a good idea. There are several small variations in the "cross pointed screw head designs" that make having the ones designed to fit a real advantage. They do help prevent damage to the screw head when removing the screws from such things as your Vivitar lens.

mjs · Oct 28, 2009

"Roamer" sounds familiar. I believe that my wife came home with one of these from an auction last summer. It's in a box. I just glanced at it: I'm trying real hard to convince my wench that I'm a camera user, not a camera collector, but bless her soul, if it has a lens on it or looks like it's supposed to have a lens on it, she brings it home.

Back to the Roamer. I believe that it seems to work and to be in relatively decent condition. I'll take a better look at it tonight and take some pics of it if you wish: I'll send it to you for the cost of postage, if you think it will help.

Mike

Update: I looked when I got home and it's a Roamer I. In the box, looks nice but of course I've never shot a roll of film with it. Let me know if you want it.

Randy_Va · Oct 29, 2009

Mike,

I would love it. I will shoot you a private message.

elekm · Oct 29, 2009

Often, the less expensive a camera was (and is), the more difficult it is to disassemble in order to service. With some inexpensive cameras, you'll find rivets instead of screws and soft aluminum tabs that bend and hold parts in place rather than threaded collars.

I don't know anything about the Roamer, but keep this in mind when trying to service it. Best of luck. Tomosoy's books are excellent resources.

Toffle · Oct 29, 2009

mjs said:
"Roamer" sounds familiar. I believe that my wife came home with one of these from an auction last summer. It's in a box. I just glanced at it: I'm trying real hard to convince my wench that I'm a camera user, not a camera collector, but bless her soul, if it has a lens on it or looks like it's supposed to have a lens on it, she brings it home.

Where do you find one of these? (I mean a wife who will bring home stray cameras for you... )

mjs · Nov 1, 2009

Toffle said:
Where do you find one of these? (I mean a wife who will bring home stray cameras for you... )

They're pretty rare, from what I gather. Mine is multi-talented: she'll not only bring home just about anything related to photography but also anything related to astronomy (my other time-sink,) and an astonishing array of interesting books.

But that's not the unbelievable part. She's been known to go out photographing with me (I mostly use large format) and willingly carry film holders up and down ravines, wait patiently until the wind dies down or the light changes, etc. Not always, but from time to time.

Not sure how I got her; it is possible that a mistake was made on someone's part. I tell her that it's too late now: after 30 years and 3 kids, she's lost the receipt and is stuck with me.

Randy_Va · Nov 2, 2009

I am jealous and impressed, I am doing good when I get my wife to pause for five minutes for me to take a snapshot. She does put up with me buying esoteric film equipment so I won't complain!

The liquid electrical tape worked like a champ, but next time I will have to buy a small brush. A toothpick was too small, and the built in brush was WAY too big, still it folds and has fewer light leaks now.

I shoved a CFL bulb into the bellows to check (luckily these are smaller than incandescent bulbs) any one else have a better practice for seeing where the light comes in?

flash26c · Nov 2, 2009

If you have an electronic flash, shoot it in the bellows from the back and note the light escaping from those little holes. Can be quite the light show!

Randy_Va · Nov 2, 2009

Shot a roll through the camera today and here are my stupid mistakes just in case another folder newbie happens by this thread.

1) The leader for the film is quite long, don't assume your red window is misaligned because your camera can do 620 and 120. (For those of you that want to laugh at me, I went into the basement bathroom and rewound the film prior to finding an image of the Ilford backing paper online and realizing I just had not wound far enough to see the number 1).

2) Don't forget to wind the film as there is nothing to prevent multiple exposures. (2 double exposures out of 8 still gives me 75% accuracy on that test...)

3) Don't forget your notebook and if you do have a better memory than me as to your meter reading and the estimated distance that you paced off. Worst part about the missed notebook is now I have no way to judge how close the shutter speed is to accurate. I will have to do another test tomorrow with notebook when I am in the office.

Wish me luck taking it in to get developed tomorrow One decent photo will make me happy.

ntenny · Nov 2, 2009

Randy_Va said:
3) Don't forget your notebook and if you do have a better memory than me as to your meter reading and the estimated distance that you paced off.

3bis) Stop pacing around and get an external rangefinder!

Seriously---very useful accessory. I had to bid on several of them before I successfully lowballed one, but I ended up with a nice little Saymon-Brown rangefinder that seems to be quite accurate and looks about the same age as most of my folders. You might be less stingy than I and able to buy one more quickly.

-NT

Randy_Va · Nov 2, 2009

ntenny,

I finally found a reasonable price on an ideal rangefinder that the seller claims to work this morning. No shoe mount though but for the difference in price (25 bucks) i'll stick it in my pocket between shots.

Although I am sure that will get annoying and I will be back asking for advice on a home built shoe mount adapter.

Randy_Va · Nov 12, 2009

Results!

The first rolls are shot processed and the best (and worst) are up for viewing here.

I need some help determining if the abberations seen here, here, and here are pin holes in the bellows as I am assuming, or something else.

So far I am very impressed with this little guy . Need to fix the problem spots and get back out for some more pictures. This time with a rangefinder to simplify focusing.

Thanks in advance for any troubleshooting help.

vdonovan · Nov 12, 2009

Randy, the only time you'll need an intervention is when you are thinking of going back to work...

ntenny · Nov 12, 2009

Randy_Va said:
The first rolls are shot processed and the best (and worst) are up for viewing here.

Very nice! I like image #4 especially.

I need some help determining if the abberations seen here, here, and here are pin holes in the bellows as I am assuming, or something else.

They look like pinholes in the bellows to me. Sometimes they're visible only from certain angles and can be tough to track down.

-NT

Dave Pritchard · Nov 12, 2009

You will eventually develop your own personal OCD method of avoiding double exposures. I like your photos. Very nice. Those large negatives have their own great qualities.
I have an old Linhof view camera with light leaks in the bellows. I gave up on fixing all of them. I used to just use a dark cloth over the bellows area to keep direct light off of it. It's a quick way to keep shooting while fiddling with the repair work.

Help with folder (home sick with too much time to eBay)

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