Help with my Bladder . . . . . . . .

[Ian Grant]

Should have said help with the bladder on my Thornton Pickard shutter which I've just restored.

The bladder is inflated by a tube connected to a rubber bulb which inflates the bladder when sqeezed.

The bladder now leaks, and is rock hard, it's not man made and appears to be organic in nature, most likely some part of an animal or fish.

The bladder on the bottom right in the photo goes in the center of the shutter under the tab which it lifts and allows the shutter to fire as it's inflated. I need suggestions on how to make a new one, I've tried using a piece old bicycle inner tub but that not very practical.

Apart from this the shutter is now working perfectly, despite being sold for parts on Ebay, the shutter cloth was badly creased had a multitude of pinholes, there was no cord to cock the shutter and the brass & woodwork tatty. I ironed the shutter after removing a flaking covering, re-blacked it with black acrylic paint and it's now totally light tight but flexible, it requires very little effort to re-cock the shutter. I still need to determine the exact shutter speeds, it has two options depending on how many turns of the spring are used to tension it, as well as T.

I've fitted an early Ross symmetrical lens SN 2197, f8 - f64 approx 300m/12" which is marked as covering 8"x5"

Ian

 

[Sirius Glass]

How about a bladder/bulb from a blood pressure machine?

Steve

 

[Greg_E]

How big does it need to be?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balloon_catheter

There are similar industrial devices, but I can't think what they are called.

 

[Ian Grant]

How about a bladder/bulb from a blood pressure machine?
Steve

How big are they ? I have the hand bulb part, as I use one with a Packard shutter and also pneumatic cable releases.

How big does it need to be?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balloon_catheter

There are similar industrial devices, but I can't think what they are called.

Those look ideal, it's roughly 2cm diameter.

Ian

 

[bdial]

Some fountain pens have small bladders for holding the ink, might one of those work?

 

[Ian Grant]

Some fountain pens have small bladders for holding the ink, might one of those work?

That's the kind of lateral thinking I need, I think they'll be a touch to small, they are tubular whereas the original & ideal shape is roughly circular. I'll have look anyway, thanks.

Ian

 

[davidkachel]

How about a small finger cot. Roll it to just the size you need.

 

[Ian Grant]

What's a finger cot ? Where do you get them ?

Ian

 

[davidkachel]

What's a finger cot ? Where do you get them ?

Ian

A condom for your finger. They are used for medical exams, etc. They come in various sizes and are dirt cheap. You can afford to break them by the dozen.

 

[bdial]

Or,
Maybe perfume atomizer balls?
http://www.paradise-co.com/ballcaps/index.html

 

[Anscojohn]

How about the end of a radio-sonde balloon? They are availabe from surplus outlets and are quite-hefty rubber.

Hmm, thinking again; do they still sell natural condoms? Brands like Four-X and Lambskin were made of, I think, the lining of the sheep's stomach--or some other part of the innards.

 

[davidkachel]

There is a similar item, thicker and as I remember, perforated so it would not work for you if that is the case, used by people who counted a lot of paper money. It saved wear and tear on the finger leafing through the bills. I have no idea what they are called and don't remember every seeing one without the holes; but worth looking into

 

[Ian Grant]

Thanks so I need to find a friendly Doctor There are medical suppliers in the Kemeralti (Street market area) near where we live in Turkey I'm sure I might find something there, or maybe those rubber things bank clerks use on their fingers to count money.

Ian

 

[Ian Grant]

Thanks I'm seeing a perfume wholesaler tomorrow about something else that's another good idea and right shape & possibly size.

Ian

 

[davidkachel]

I can't speak for pharmacies in Turkey, but in the US they commonly sell finger cots. Worst case you would need to go to a medical supply and unless they suspect you of running a brothel for midgets, you should have no problem buying them.

 

[DannL]

Or,
Maybe perfume atomizer balls?
http://www.paradise-co.com/ballcaps/index.html

There we go, that's what I was thinking.

I doubt that the original was fexible like a balloon, but more like a bota bag that just inflated. You can make a miniature bota bag by coating cloth with pitch, tar or just paint on the inside. But, then you would have to put your sewing skills to work.

Maybe that's not a good idea.

Go wrangle up a blowfish.

 

[archphoto]

Check Ebay.
Key words: Blasebalg; Druckluftball
Wikinger Vertrieb sell them, they are used for air-cleaning the mirror and focusing screen of your camera.
About € 6,- ex shipment.

Peter

 

[JPD]

Hm... An ear wash ball, or what they are called in english, perhaps?

http://images.google.se/images?hl=sv&safe=off&q="ear wash ball"&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wi

 

[Greg_E]

What about a very small piston? Some tubing, and close tolerance pin, a return spring and some O rings and oil for the seal. Starting to get a little complex but it's another idea.