Modify 530/16 To Use Red Window?

[takilmaboxer]

I have a 1936 Zeiss 530/16 that takes beautiful pictures. These cameras are notorious for problems with the film advance/frame counter/double exposure prevention mechanism, and mine is becoming unreliable in that regard. Is it possible to modify the camera so that these mechanisms are defeated, and the winding knob only advances the film; and use the red window for frame counting? Perhaps there's and archival thread on this topic, or a reader with relevant experience?

 

[Dan Daniel]

It shouldn't be hard. I don't know the specifics of this camera. But there will be two issues to deal with. The first is the 'metering' system, the way the film is measured from frame to frame. The second is the double exposure prevention system. The two systems often interact and this is the only real problem. If you remove the wrong part of the metering system, the shutter release stop might not be released.

Open it up and then reinstall the knobs without the top plate so you can study the mechanism. It should become clear what is stopping the film after each frame, and what is allowing the shutter release to work again. Rip out one and leave the other!