For Sale Kodak Medalist II, 120 conversion $550

[Dan Daniel]

I am going to finish the overhaul and conversion of a Kodak Medalist II in the next few days. Thought I'd throw it up here now in case anyone is interested.

(I have a list of people who expressed interest in the past, but I can't find it right now. I will dig through old messages and contact people later- sorry, and if you have contacted me before and are interested still you will get priority.)

The 120 conversion involves removing the film chamber walls, machining them out and adding a new wall that gives room for the 120 spool. The wind tab inside the camera needs to be modified and a few other areas need to be machined to accommodate the 120 spools. When done, the camera looks exactly original from the exterior. Operation is almost exactly the same, except you can use 120 film.

In the process of getting to the film chamber walls, the camera is basically disassembled down to its frame. Everything is cleaned and adjusted in re-assembly. Shutter overhauled and working well. Focus helical cleaned and lubed. Rangefinder cleaned and adjusted in all functions. Viewfinder cleaned. All in all a pretty well-functioning 70 year old camera with a great lens and a style that is, well, I tend to call it Rube Goldberg meets Buck Rogers? I think this camera is related to 1949 Chevy coupes.

Happy to answer any questions.

$550 OBO, plus shipping ($16 in US, others inquire)

 

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[GRHazelton]

Alas, I need to rein in my Gear Acquisition Syndrome, or I'd pounce on this! I have an Autocord redone by Brother Dan, he does lovely work.
But does the Medalist lack strap lugs?? I didn't see any!

 

[abruzzi]

just curious, does your conversion allow 120 spools on the take-up as well as the supply side?

 

[GRHazelton]

Now I see the strap lugs! Nicely integrated into the body design, and I'll bet they'll never wear out! Get some fine, top grain leather for a strap,maybe a little tooling, and what a presentation!

 

[Dan Daniel]

just curious, does your conversion allow 120 spools on the take-up as well as the supply side?

Oops, didn't see this. Yes, both sides use 120 spools.

 

[Dan Daniel]

Now I see the strap lugs! Nicely integrated into the body design, and I'll bet they'll never wear out! Get some fine, top grain leather for a strap,maybe a little tooling, and what a presentation!

Yep, the strap lugs are each side of the lens, top of the main body. thick, aluminum. The two screws on each lug are also what holds the front of the top plate in place. There are two posts further back inside the body to complete the main body assembly. The Medalist is a solid chunk of metal. I have yet to see one that has any structural damage. Shutters get sticky and such, wind mechanisms have their issues, viewfinder glass and rangefinder prisms get gunked up, focus helical gets dirty. But the main structures stay intact.

Good to hear that that your Autocord is chugging along. That focus helical system is just a touch less beefy than the medalist and I've seen the cast lens board cracked before the lens and shutter go out of alignment.

Oh, here's an indicator of the strength of those strap lugs!

 

[Dan Daniel]

So the camera is finished and ready to go out if anyone is interested. Looks just like it does above because the modification is all internal. Looks and acts like any other Medalist other than taking 120 spools on both sides.

 

[Dan Daniel]

bump