K-Mart brand Focal 135/2.8 manufacturer

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I have the referenced lens with a stuck aperture, I am assuming oil. I've been unable to locate a disassembly guide and was hoping someone may know who made it. Sometimes you can find a guide for a more well-known manufacturer that's the same lens. I know there's a good chance K-mart bought 135's from several manufacturers over the years, but thought I'd ask.
 

Paul Howell

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What mount? At one point in the early to mid 70s Kmart sold rebranded Petri, who did make a 135 2.8. I have a Soilgar in Miranda mount that looks just my Petri Petri in breech mount. Which is odd as Soligar and Marinda were owned by AIC, would have thought any Soligar lens for Marinda would be a rebanded Mirinda if that makes any sense. I also have a Soilgar 80 to 230 than seems a match for my Petri 80 to 230. In 76 or 77 Petri switched from a breech mount to a M42 mount and along with a number of lens in M42, including a 135, then went bust.
 

BrianShaw

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Possibly Chinon.

http://allphotolenses.com/lenses/brands/c_120.html

I have same problem with what is probably same lens with a Ricoh trim ring. On YouTube there are a couple of videos on repairing these. Search “Chinon 135 repair”. One guy accesses from front; other guy accesses from rear. Not sure which is best or easiest so if you look into this and have an opinion… I’ll be all ears.
 
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wiltw

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General information taken off the web:
"Kmart is a chain of discount stores based in the United States and founded in 1962.[1]. They are known to use the brand name Focal for their photographic products. The cameras and accessories are typically rebranded products from major manufactures like Haking and Cosina. The lenses were made by a variety of third parties, some were made in Japan and some in Korea Samyang "​
 

Paul Howell

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If from the 70s might be Petri, either Petri breech mount or M2, later will be K mount, could be any number of folks, Cosina, Chinon, Ricoh, had to say. Don't recall if Kmart sold house brand lens in Nikon, Canon or Minolta mount.
 

Paul Howell

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Just checked Ebay, Focal sold lens for a wide range of MF mounts, Nikon, Pentax K and KA, Minolta, and Canon.
 

BrianShaw

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B_H… post a picture!

Does yours look like this:
8E57E2C0-C3C4-4DD3-8C23-AE9B21AD9B51.jpeg
5AE9A6C7-9416-4398-8630-03492FD88BE0.jpeg
8017D8DC-7004-4448-869F-684CEEAE457E.jpeg
B6CD615C-2772-4B6B-B04F-785DBD012E2E.jpeg
 
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Thanks all. It's a PK mount. Based on photos and information I could find it's none of the manufacturers mentioned. I feel like I did see a photo that matched, but now can't recall the brand. Like so many of the large retailers back then, they just bought from the lowest bidder that could meet the specs. I grew up in K-mart's backyard and bought my K-1000 from them. They had a pretty good camera department back in the day.

Anyway, I got frustrated with the lack of information and decided to dive in. I figured it didn't work when I started, so if it doesn't work when I finished no loss. Also, I've messed around with a few lenses and have watched enough videos to know what to expect (mostly).

I removed the mount, the coupling, and the aperture ring. Someone had been inside the lens before. The arm that connects from the back side of the mount to the aperture assembly was laying loose in its slot and the screws were gone (or so I thought). While fiddling with the lens and flipping it end for end trying to decide my next move, one the the screws fell out of wherever it had gotten to. I shook the lens but the second one didn't appear. What did appear were a couple of bearings from the rear of the assembly. I placed them back in their track and snugged down the ring that had someone had loosened up. There are a few bearings missing.

I couldn't break the screws loose to remove the next section with the diaphragm, so I removed the rear lens elements, spacer, and ring. The front element assembly is held in with 3 screws. I took them out and removed the assembly. This left me with the focus and aperture assemblies in the lens barrel. Since I couldn't get the diaphragm out, I decided to clean in situ. The entire assembly was flushed with copious amounts of Ronsinol. The blades broke free and started working right away. I was able to get to the blades with a soft brush and clean them on both sides. Then I followed up by dousing with isopropyl alcohol. As I was flushing everything out something fell out of the lens and hit the patio. The other screw! I must've been glued in place with the sticky dried out oil.

Anyway, cleaned out all of the old sticky oil, cleaned the glass, put it all back together and it works, except for one thing. The bearing that's used for the aperture ring detents is missing, so when I replaced the coupling lever it reconnected to the springs and now it won't stay put. I figure whoever got inside before tried to figure out why the aperture no longer worked and just put it back together (which included tossing parts in loose) without actually reassembling it properly.

So, if I can figure out what size bearing I need the lens would be fine and dandy.

A couple of quick cellphone shots. This one has the slide out hood and takes a 55mm filter. I have also seen references to 53 and 58mm filter threads. Original caps too!
Image (6) by telecast, on Flickr

Image (8) by telecast, on Flickr
 
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