large format focal plane shutter curtain care

Shadow 2

A
Shadow 2

  • 0
  • 0
  • 16
Shadow 1

A
Shadow 1

  • 2
  • 0
  • 17
Darkroom c1972

A
Darkroom c1972

  • 1
  • 2
  • 31
Tōrō

H
Tōrō

  • 4
  • 0
  • 39

Recent Classifieds

Forum statistics

Threads
198,826
Messages
2,781,478
Members
99,718
Latest member
nesunoio
Recent bookmarks
0

spoolman

Subscriber
Joined
Sep 7, 2007
Messages
661
Location
Toronto Onta
Format
Med. Format Pan
I've recently purchased a Folmer and Schwing #3A Graflex that has a focal plane shutter.I'm wondering what steps I should take and what materials to use to keep this curtain in good operating condition.

Thanks,

Doug:smile:
 

juan

Member
Joined
May 7, 2003
Messages
2,706
Location
St. Simons I
Format
Multi Format
Go over to graflex.org, register, and look through the help threads. Those folks are the experts. If you don't see what you're looking for, ask them. They are very helpful.
juan
 

Sirius Glass

Subscriber
Joined
Jan 18, 2007
Messages
50,364
Location
Southern California
Format
Multi Format
I am working on an article on repairing Graflex and Graphic focal plane shutters.

Steve
 
OP
OP

spoolman

Subscriber
Joined
Sep 7, 2007
Messages
661
Location
Toronto Onta
Format
Med. Format Pan
Hello Juan:Thanks for the info.Im heading overthere in a half an hour.

Doug:smile:
 

Sirius Glass

Subscriber
Joined
Jan 18, 2007
Messages
50,364
Location
Southern California
Format
Multi Format
I would like to post it on APUG, graflex.org and largeformatphotography.info.

Steve
 

Sirius Glass

Subscriber
Joined
Jan 18, 2007
Messages
50,364
Location
Southern California
Format
Multi Format
I am corresponding with Bert Saunders and following his instructions. I have been collecting and editing everything he writes. I have patched the curtain, adjusted the tension and now I am working on getting the "O" aperture centered. The pin in the H level is part way out but it will not move. When I have completed the repair and I am sure the instructions are both correct and clear, I will ask Bert to read and correct it before posting.

Steve
 

removed account4

Subscriber
Joined
Jun 21, 2003
Messages
29,832
Format
Hybrid
I am corresponding with Bert Saunders and following his instructions. I have been collecting and editing everything he writes. I have patched the curtain, adjusted the tension and now I am working on getting the "O" aperture centered. The pin in the H level is part way out but it will not move. When I have completed the repair and I am sure the instructions are both correct and clear, I will ask Bert to read and correct it before posting.

Steve



if you are in bert's hands, you are in good hands !

good luck with your article !
john
 

Sirius Glass

Subscriber
Joined
Jan 18, 2007
Messages
50,364
Location
Southern California
Format
Multi Format
The pin came out after I put WD-40 on it to soak in for 24 hours. Today I found that the trigger-mirror-shutter linkage is not always working and that the H lever wobbles. I am waiting to hear from Bert before I decide to tape the pin in further or make another adjustment first.

Steve
 

Ian Grant

Subscriber
Joined
Aug 2, 2004
Messages
23,263
Location
West Midland
Format
Multi Format
Tomosy has a good section on repairing Focal plane shutters in his Camera Restoration/repair book. I found it after I'd successfully restored a pre-Anniversary shutter.

Ian
 

jon koss

Member
Joined
Sep 4, 2004
Messages
748
Location
Boston, MA
Format
35mm
Hi Steve - The pins need to be well-seated for sure. Make sure everything is clean and free of burrs. If your pins did not survive the extraction process intact, then you may get play in the mechanism. This is not good because it will greatly accelerate wear, and of course, the dang thing will not fire reliably. If you are worried about your pins, please drop a PM. I purchased a bunch of pins a while back and I could probably dig them up with enough time and encouragement.

Good luck,
Jon

The pin came out after I put WD-40 on it to soak in for 24 hours. Today I found that the trigger-mirror-shutter linkage is not always working and that the H lever wobbles. I am waiting to hear from Bert before I decide to tape the pin in further or make another adjustment first.

Steve
 

waynecrider

Subscriber
Joined
Feb 8, 2003
Messages
2,574
Location
Georgia
Format
35mm
Has anyone found curtain material that will work? Last I read a few years back was that there was something out of Japan I believe, but I think the thickness was a little more then what was used in the OEM stuff.
 

jon koss

Member
Joined
Sep 4, 2004
Messages
748
Location
Boston, MA
Format
35mm
Hi Wayne - The Japanese material was offered by one Aki-Asahi at aki-asahi.com. I found the thickness to be no problem. I measured it myself and it was extremely close in thickness to the Graflex fabric in my camera. If memory serves both were bang-on at 0.008 inches. The actual avoirdupois weight per area of the Aki-Asahi (AA) was greater than the Graflex stuff, but that did not create any problems. In short, it works.

I believe there are now two varieties of AA material. One is rubber-coated fabric and the other is a sandwich with fabric on the outside and rubber in the middle. I am only guessing that the tri-layer is thicker than the bi-layer but this is pure speculation - I have never handled the tri-layer.

Incidentally, the AA fabric oozes quality and happens to be gorgeous. It drapes beautifully, has bombproof opacity and is possessed of a lovely hand as well.

Hope that helps a bit.

Jon



Has anyone found curtain material that will work? Last I read a few years back was that there was something out of Japan I believe, but I think the thickness was a little more then what was used in the OEM stuff.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Photrio.com contains affiliate links to products. We may receive a commission for purchases made through these links.
To read our full affiliate disclosure statement please click Here.

PHOTRIO PARTNERS EQUALLY FUNDING OUR COMMUNITY:



Ilford ADOX Freestyle Photographic Stearman Press Weldon Color Lab Blue Moon Camera & Machine
Top Bottom