how to clean the mirror on aNational Graflex II camera

spoolman · Sep 13, 2016

I was preparing to sell this camera due to the fuzzy image I saw looking through the viewfinder magnifier. I then removed the lens to see if it was dirty. Clean as a whistle then I looked into the camera and saw that the mirror was filthy. I didn't want to try and clean it through the opening where the lens was.

Any suggestions as to how to gt to the mirror without having to go through where the lens was?. I was going to pose this question on graflex.org but I thought I would post it here first and see what happens.

Doug

shutterfinger · Sep 13, 2016

spoolman said:
I was going to pose this question on graflex.org but I thought I would post it here first and see what happens.

Same thing that would happen there except I respond with a different user name.
1. Remove the 4 small clamps, 2 each side of the view hood held by screws.
2. Lift the view hood off.
3. Lift the ground glass out.
4. Release the shutter with the lens door open.
5. Hold the mirror up through the lens opening while cleaning the mirror.
6. Wash the ground glass in warm water and dish detergent holding the ground glass by the edges and rubbing gently with your finger tips, rinse thoroughly then rinse in a weak photoflo solution and air dry standing the ground glass on edge or dry with a lint free towel.

spoolman · Sep 13, 2016

Hi shutterfinger: Thanks for the instructions. Disassembly was easy. Re-assembly was a little more difficult. Especially those small screws and the retaining clamps for the viewing hood. But all is back together and I'll give the camera a test run in the next few days.

Thanks again.

Doug

spoolman · Sep 14, 2016

Looks like cleaning the mirror and ground glass hasn't cured the blurriness when I try to focus the lens. The focus handle appears to be loose and when I look through the viewing hood the image goes from completely out of focus to barely sharp then out of focus again. Does the lens need to be looked at?.

Doug

shutterfinger · Sep 14, 2016

I think the lens needs a close look. With the focus lever loose it may have a loose element or an element out of place.
Which lens do you have on your camera?

spoolman · Sep 14, 2016

shutterfinger said:
I think the lens needs a close look. With the focus lever loose it may have a loose element or an element out of place.
Which lens do you have on your camera?

The lens is a Bausch and Lomb 75 mm Tessar f-3.5

shutterfinger · Sep 14, 2016

Same lens that is on the National Graflex II that has been occupying my fork bench for several months.
The rear section should move smoothly as a unit as the focus lever is operated.

spoolman · Sep 14, 2016

shutterfinger said:
Same lens that is on the National Graflex II that has been occupying my fork bench for several months.
The rear section should move smoothly as a unit as the focus lever is operated.

The rear section moves smoothly but the focus lever has a significant amount of play to it. I'll have to find someone who can have a look at it and see if the focus can be tightened up as well as a general C.L.A. of it

Doug

peter k. · Sep 15, 2016

FYI: Check with Shtterfinger .. he's does that.

how to clean the mirror on aNational Graflex II camera

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