Kodak 1a speed repair

[ggfinn]

Hi,
I just acquired one of these. No manual seems to be on-line for them, other
than of course general info on its Graflex focal plane shutter. Does anyone have a
basic user manual and if possible -- repair info?

Also, is Bald Mountain Photography still operating? It seems the right place to
send this camera if I can't repair it myself. Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks

 

[shutterfinger]

Search engine Kodak 1A brings up a vest pocket Kodak camera, http://www.butkus.org/chinon/kodak.htm
Search engine Graflex 1A brings up a Graflex SLR type camera made from 1909 to 1925. Folmer and Schwing was owned by Kodak during this era and later became Graflex Corp. http://www.butkus.org/chinon/graflex/1-a_graflex/1-a_graflex.htm
Which camera do you have?

Also, is Bald Mountain Photography still operating?

http://www.baldmtn.com/

I wrote instructions for the shutter servicing of a Graflex/Kodak 3A a few years ago, its available here http://www.southbristolviews.com/pics/Graphic/manual-pdf/3A Graflex Servicing.pdf
The 1A Graflex is similar in build.

 

[ggfinn]

Search engine Kodak 1A brings up a vest pocket Kodak camera, http://www.butkus.org/chinon/kodak.htm
Search engine Graflex 1A brings up a Graflex SLR type camera made from 1909 to 1925. Folmer and Schwing was owned by Kodak during this era and later became Graflex Corp. http://www.butkus.org/chinon/graflex/1-a_graflex/1-a_graflex.htm
Which camera do you have?

http://www.baldmtn.com/

I wrote instructions for the shutter servicing of a Graflex/Kodak 3A a few years ago, its available here http://www.southbristolviews.com/pics/Graphic/manual-pdf/3A Graflex Servicing.pdf
The 1A Graflex is similar in build.

THX for reply.

Have not received an email response from Bald Mountain, so I ask here.
Perhaps he is on vacation.

To answer your question ...
It is a 1A Speed Kodak, <Dead Link Removed
made in cooperation with Folmer & Schwing. Two nice pictures of it are here:
<http://graflexcamera.tumblr.com/post/116874627496/1a-speed-kodak-1909-1913>

An odd duck, but interesting. Supposedly Kodak's first action-freezing sports camera.
It is hand-holdable, case about the same size as the Kodak 3A Pocket Folding Camera, but
with much smaller bed and less extension since it uses 116 format instead of 122.

 

[shutterfinger]

The 1A Graflex and 3A Graflex were also sold under the Kodak name.
The Focal Plane Shutter is on two rollers, the top engages the winding gear mechanism and the lower has the tensioning spring. There is a end shaft bushing on the left and a through the plate bushing on the right, the graphitted grease in the end bushing dries out causing excessive drag. The tensioning spring weakens and the shutter will not restore to original speeds if all else is good. The shutter curtain was originally .007 to .008 inch thick when new and it swells as it dries out with age. That camera design may tolerate the curtain swelling to .015 inch thick. If the curtain has started cracking it is unusable as is. The curtain can be stripped and recoated with artist paint that remains flexible, washable fabric paint, or polydip. I have stripped and recoated several shutter curtains from Graflex SLR's. A new curtain can be made from rubberized cloth sold as Player Piano bellows cloth which runs around $90 a yard and it takes around 2 1/2 yards to make a shutter. The cloth is sold by micro tools as shutter cloth in small pieces but they might sell a larger piece. The cloth is usually 54 inches wide.

Do some exploratory work to find out what your camera will need.

 

[shutterfinger]

Post some detailed pictures of the controls and I will give you some operating instructions.