Minolta Autocord - broken focus lever

If anyone here has some 'complete' pieces, broken Autocord Focusing Levers that they would no mind sending me, I could use them for late sand-casting experiments AND, seeing if the pot metal used will stand up to some low heat 'aluminum' alloy repair rods I have on hand, from Harbor Freight, which is said to be able to do pot metal as well.

Message me for address,with their Paypal info, so I can pay for shipping, and, if someone has an Autocord that they do no want to have repaired, that I can practice on, I'll also be very grateful to receive one of those too, especially a 1958 "E" for Export Model.

My AutoCord, which I bought from a member here, years ago, has no had any issues, and I suspect it had a very good CLA shortly before it came to me.

They are great cameras that need at least an additional Hundred years in the hands of analog photographers.

Cheers

Sure. Not really looking to try anything elaborate repairwise, but you never know. I've been focusing with my fingernail (or a toothpick) since it broke!

cptrios said:

Sure. Not really looking to try anything elaborate repairwise, but you never know. I've been focusing with my fingernail (or a toothpick) since it broke!

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If you remove the focus scale, you get access to a much larger area. Can even try gluing a tab on the lever.

Just be certain to cover the two screw holes that hold on the scale. The holes go all the through to the film chamber so need to be sealed. Simply putting the scale screws back in without he scale will take care of this.

Dan Daniel said:

If you remove the focus scale, you get access to a much larger area. Can even try gluing a tab on the lever.

Just be certain to cover the two screw holes that hold on the scale. The holes go all the through to the film chamber so need to be sealed. Simply putting the scale screws back in without he scale will take care of this.

Click to expand...

Hmm thanks; I was wondering if it was safe to use the camera without the focus scale. I imagine going without it would increase some dust risk?

cptrios said:

Hmm thanks; I was wondering if it was safe to use the camera without the focus scale. I imagine going without it would increase some dust risk?

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No risk. When you focus close and extend the lens board. you'll see the brushed silver walls around the sides and top. And at the bottom; the silver part is basically a tray that sits just inside the lens board. So any dust needs to travel up the tray walls and then go mess things up. Focus scale doesn't affect this at all.

But to repeat, you need to seal the two holes, one at each end of the scale. they are drilled through to the film chamber. A good way to save the original screws is to use them as plugs.

Well that's really good to know! I appreciate it. I'm going to keep the camera for at least a few more rolls, especially since I just read about the Rick Oleson split-image screens that might go some way to counterbalancing my poor focus skills.

Does anyone know if the focus scale of the Meopta Flexaret fits on the Minolta Autocord?