Want to Buy Junk Welti Weltini II for parts?

Extreme long shot here; need the beam splitter prism in the rangefinder for an otherwise near perfect example Weltini II I have.

The beam splitter cannot be replaced with a simple substitute, as the rear portion of the beam splitter is ground concave and is part of the viewing optics, so a simple beam splitter cube is not an option.

Looks like oil worked its way in between the prisms and attacked 1/2 of the mirrored surface, turning the silver a dark, opaque gray, so I have a bright yellow rangefinder dot floating in the dark on the left hand side. In short, it' useless for focusing...

Maybe I'll just pull it out and use it as a zone-focus camera, but would like to try to find a replacement if possible.

thanks!

I have a Weltini I with a jammed shutter, but I don't know if the beamsplitter could be swapped over. I'm afraid my Weltini II is on the "never sell" list; with the f/2 Xenon, it's my top choice for an EDC camera.

Maybe you can have it resilvered?

JPD said:

Maybe you can have it resilvered?

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The silver layer in question is between two cemented halves of the beam splitter, as I understand it; you'd have to decement, resilver (at 50%) and recement without damaging the silver layer and get the halves aligned accurately. Surely easier to find a donor if one can be had.

Donald Qualls said:

I have a Weltini I with a jammed shutter, but I don't know if the beamsplitter could be swapped over. I'm afraid my Weltini II is on the "never sell" list; with the f/2 Xenon, it's my top choice for an EDC camera.

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You'd have to think they used the same beam splitter prism and optics, wouldn't you? Does it have the same "dished"side of the prism toward the eyepiece?

Of course, you may or may not want to part with the camera...

If you do, let me know.

I am also toying with the idea of splitting the prism with solvent and interposing a very light reflective Mylar strip in between the prisms to see if it would work. You wouldn't need much reflectivity...

My copy is such a nice example, it would be a shame to relegate it to viewfinder status.

Kino said:

You'd have to think they used the same beam splitter prism and optics, wouldn't you? Does it have the same "dished"side of the prism toward the eyepiece?

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I wouldn't absolutely count on parts being the same; there were a number of significant changes between the first Weltini and the second model, even over only three years. And I haven't attempted to remove the top cover on my first model (also just recalled the RF linkage has lost the screw that connects the arm to the moving mirror/prism so the RF doesn't work, though it does have a patch). I'd be willing to part with the older one, but let me see if I can tell without disassembly (got no cat-safe work space at present) if the combining prism has the concave rear surface.

Okay, I unscrewed the eyepiece on my Weltini and the prism inside does indeed have a concave rear surface (confirmed by opposite-moving reflection of my phone light). It's also in good condition, with a nice clear RF patch (which, however, doesn't move with focus due to above-mentioned disconnected actuating arm). I'm not sure what's wrong with the shutter; if cocked and fired, it usually stops with the cocking lever standing straight up and has to be jiggered around to get it to finish the cycle so the bed can be closed. Advance works fine and the leather and plating are in good condition. Bellows looks good, but I haven't checked it carefully for leaks (once I found I couldn't use the shutter, it didn't matter). The lens is a 50 mm f/2.9 Cassar, which my experience with my Balda Jubilette (same speed triplet of a different brand) suggests is quite adequate if you don't need speed). Aaaaand I just looked up some photos and this is actually a Weltini II after all (it's got the smoothly rounded top plate and no cable release socket on the top plate release), so ought to be no question the prism will interchange.

In other words, it's a very good parts camera or possibly a repairable project camera.

PM me if you're interested and we'll arrive at a price.