New challenge, Six-20 Brownie Special

[Brownie_Holiday]

Hopefully someone has experience with this model. I was able to get the plate behind the shutter and lens out and clean the main lens inside and out, but can't figure out how to access the closeup lens. The levers for the lens and I/B shutter control go through slots in the lens bezel and won't allow me to slide the shutter mechanism up.

I've searched the net for repair guides and manuals, no help.

Thoughts?

 

[Brownie_Holiday]

Well, I got it done-ish. There isn't much info out there on the camera.

The close up lens is moved between the aperture and primary lens with the little lever at the bottom of the lens bezel. It moves across the aperture in a wiping action, like a windshield wiper. I got the back of the lens good, and I was able to get the majority of the back of the closeup lens, it's the front of the closeup lens that is inaccessible. When the closeup lens is in place there's a gap between the two lenses. I tore a piece of cotton from a cotton ball and dampened it pretty good with isopropyl alcohol. Using small tools I stuffed it through the aperture and up against the back of the main lens. Then, using the lever I moved the closeup lens back and forth. The cotton ball stayed in place for the most part, I had to stop and reposition it a few times. It did a fairly effective job of cleaning a good part of the lens, at least enough to take some photos with it and see what happens. I removed the cotton ball and leftover fiber strands with tweezers and canned air, then cleaned the back of the main lens again.

This will have to do until I can get more information on how to remove the shutter assembly. In ay even, the camera can be used with the regular lens no problem.

 

[vickersdc]

@Brownie_Holiday - look forward to seeing some images from this camera!

 

[nosmok]

This is my favorite point-and-hope camera! The lens is really pretty good, the film winding can be an adventure.

 

[Brownie_Holiday]

Any suggestions on disassembly?

 

[Donald Qualls]

A lot of stamped metal goods from the era when that camera was made were "assemble once" designs -- tabs through slots and twisted or bent over to lock. It's often critical to disassemble in reverse order of assembly, and frequently not very clear from just looking at the end product what that order was.

Further, especially with bent tabs, unbending and rebending (even once) runs the risk of the tabs simply breaking off, leaving you to glue or solder the parts in place or just toss the whole thing out.

 

[Brownie_Holiday]

Member @WillyT was kind enough to send me a link to a site where the author was able to carefully pry off the outer lens bezel to gain access. He mistakenly identifies the tabs as something meant to pop out and then be popped back in, however, a respondent to his post corrects that and notes that with care this can be a successful method. I'm going to give it a shot. During my cleaning efforts I had actually stuck a small screwdriver in the notch he describes in the post, and then chickened out!

If you look at my photo the notch is visible at the 6:00 position between the words "Brownie Special". They must have planned this for some use since there are 3 tabs holding the bezel in place and the other two aren't visible.