How to replace a Rollei 35 battery cap?

[olleorama]

Got my mothers Rollei 35 some weeks ago. It lacks the battery cap (it is 29 years old...). I can use it without batteries, but I thought it would be a nice touch if I can get the exposure meter to work. I know I shouldn't trust an old CdS meter, but it would be nice. My first plan was just to ram the hole full of tin foil or something more practical, can anyone who has one draw a sketch on how the contacts in the cap looks like, where do they go? Or better yet, if it's a standard thread on the cap, maybe I can do one myself? Or are there replacements available?

 

[ic-racer]

Is this any help:

 

[AgX]

olleorama,

Why shouldn't you trust an old CDS meter?

 

[AgX]

ic-racer,

Your manual sketch shows a later version with a different battery compartment.

 

[olleorama]

olleorama,

Why shouldn't you trust an old CDS meter?

Hmm, I got a feeling they sometimes drift with the years? Or at least compared to my sekonic.

And yes, you are right the sketch shows another model. I'm talking about the classic rollei 35, where the battery hatch is inside the camera, above the film. The cap is screwed in.

 

[John Koehrer]

Might try a camera repair joint or several for a parts camera or just the cap.
It used a PX13/625 1.35V mercury battery and the + side was the main case. The - was on the bottom and about 1/4" dia. The Wein cell is a drop in replacement but is short lived. If you can find the cap a better option is an adapter from C.R.I.S. or installing a diode in series with the meter.

 

[mudman]

you could also try pacific rim camera. they carry a whole bunch of things like that.