Picked up Kodak Regent II for nothing -- worth repairing, and if so, who can do it?

[t5SQ]

I picked up a Kodak Regent II folder with a Xenar 10.5cm f/3.5 lens and integrated rangefinder for $5 at a thrift store. The focus knob doesn't work (I can see the mechanism is not connected to anything under the bellows), the shutter doesn't fire (doesn't even cock actually), and the lens is hazy. Do you think it's possible to get this fixed up into usable condition, and is it worthwhile? If so, who might be able to do it?

 

[F4U]

I'd say it would need to be actually examined in order to answer that. Although there's a high probability the shutter can be made to work properly, at the very least.

 

[Harry Callahan]

I have no idea how much such a Regent II was worth, but not every camera of these days had an integrated rangefinder - which should make this camera a little more valuable.

 

[Don_ih]

the lens is hazy

You can likely remove the lens elements and clean them. See if that haze can come off before bothering to worry about anything else.

 

[t5SQ]

I have no idea how much such a Regent II was worth, but not every camera of these days had an integrated rangefinder - which should make this camera a little more valuable.

The reason I bought it was the integrated rangefinder + Xenar lens + a glimmer of hope that it might be fixable.

 

[Harry Callahan]

Then you should give it a try. I had several cameras of this era and only one had a problematic lens i couldn`t clean, all the others were fine after.

 

[nosmok]

The Regent is (IMHO) sadly one of the more difficult to repair of 6x9 RF folding cameras. It's hard to even figure out where to start, and a lot of the mechanisms are hidden behind one thing or another. I had one for a bit but just gave up on it-- there was nothing I could do easily (take the lens off, remove the bellows) to make the major repairs easier.

 

[retina_restoration]

That Compur shutter (I assume it's a Compur) is easily serviced by anyone who is familiar with the Compurs of that era.

 

[F4U]

That Compur shutter (I assume it's a Compur) is easily serviced by anyone who is familiar with the Compurs of that era.

Agreed. The pre-synchro's and pre-rapids are a whiz if you know what you're doing. More I think of it, this sounds like a very promising project capable of having a happy outcome. Good luck.

 

[nosmok]

That Compur shutter (I assume it's a Compur) is easily serviced by anyone who is familiar with the Compurs of that era.

Agreed. The pre-synchro's and pre-rapids are a whiz if you know what you're doing. More I think of it, this sounds like a very promising project capable of having a happy outcome. Good luck.

Not trying to say anything about Compur shutters and their relative complexities, but have you guys ever owned a Kodak Regent? They are a beautiful, streamlined design, but a lot of the innards, especially the (small) rangefinder, are hidden by leather coverings, metal fairings, and/or are riveted or tabbed together. It seemed to me a pretty tough job compared to some other MF RFs of the period. If the OP wants to go for it he can, but it's not a 'beginner' or an easy project IMO.

 

[retina_restoration]

Not trying to say anything about Compur shutters and their relative complexities, but have you guys ever owned a Kodak Regent? They are a beautiful, streamlined design, but a lot of the innards, especially the (small) rangefinder, are hidden by leather coverings, metal fairings, and/or are riveted or tabbed together. It seemed to me a pretty tough job compared to some other MF RFs of the period. If the OP wants to go for it he can, but it's not a 'beginner' or an easy project IMO.

I did not say it was a task suited to a "beginner" or untrained novice, I said anyone with prior experience with Compur shutters would have a very easy job of it. The one thing Kodak did right with most (all?) of their 35mm cameras was made it a fairly simple chore to remove the shutter from the camera body.

 

[nosmok]

I did not say it was a task suited to a "beginner" or untrained novice, I said anyone with prior experience with Compur shutters would have a very easy job of it. The one thing Kodak did right with most (all?) of their 35mm cameras was made it a fairly simple chore to remove the shutter from the camera body.

The Regent is not a 35mm camera, it's a 6x9 folder, as the focal length of the Xenar (105mm) would indicate. It, like the Retinas, is a European Kodak design, but I'm not sure if, like the Retinas, it was done by (the former) Nagel Werke, or by a French Kodak subsidiary. Whichever, WWII put paid to the design, and it was not revived after hostilities ceased.

 

[4season]

Per camera-wiki, this camera is "very rare", and a single eBay listing has it priced at 2300 USD. Whether that price is remotely realistic, I couldn't say, but it does make me think it's either worth a careful restoration, else treat as a collectable item.

 

[t5SQ]

Per camera-wiki, this camera is "very rare", and a single eBay listing has it priced at 2300 USD. Whether that price is remotely realistic, I couldn't say, but it does make me think it's either worth a careful restoration, else treat as a collectable item.

I noticed that as well. It does seem pretty rare: in the past three years, it seems that only three have sold on eBay. Regardless, I'd prefer to take pictures with it rather than sell it or put it on a shelf. But I don't know who might have the skills to repair it. Certainly not me.

 

[Don_ih]

I'd prefer to take pictures with it rather than sell it or put it on a shelf.

The elevated price is due to rarity more than quality. I'm sure it takes fine photos - when it works - but I'd get it fixed then sell it. Finding someone to fix it shouldn't be that hard. Collectors may only put their cameras on the shelf, but they also want them fully functional.

 

[blee1996]

Jurgen Kreckels (ebay id Certo6) specializes in medium format folder CLA. Maybe you can try his service.

Security Measure | eBay

www.ebay.com

 

[Disconnekt]

Jurgen Kreckels (ebay id Certo6) specializes in medium format folder CLA. Maybe you can try his service.

Security Measure | eBay

www.ebay.com

I was going to recommend messaging him too, but remembered that I had messaged him a couple years ago about seeing if he could work on my Kodak 3A Series III & he said he no "longer service Kodak folders."

 

[Disconnekt]

Brian Coe's book "kodak cameras: first 100 years" shows that there was only 10,000 make of the Regent II, made by Kodak A.G. (Germany) from 1935 to 1939 (1st photo, 2nd photo is from Jim McKowen book, shows the wrong date of it being made just in 1939)

 

[Don_ih]

I was going to recommend messaging him too, but remembered that I had messaged him a couple years ago about seeing if he could work on my Kodak 3A Series III & he said he no "longer service Kodak folders."

He may no longer service Kodak folders that aren't worth the price of the service (probably had too many people abandon the camera). He may make an exception in this case.

 

[JPD]

I wouldn't send a rare camera like the Kodak Regent II to that heavy-handed gunsmith, but to a trained camera repairman.

 

[Dan Daniel]

If you think that the camera is worth it, contact Alex Varas in Spain. He might want to take a shot at it. Since he is in Europe he sees more variety of these Rube Golderg-ish German folder designs than most people in the US. Shipping will not be cheap. And who knows what tariffs will mean tomorrow or next week or next year...

Alex Varas Cameras - Camera Repair Service.

CLA, camera repair service for 35mm, medium and large format. Rolleiflex and Rolleicord repair and overhaul. TLR, folders, leaf shutters.

alexvarascameras.com

 

[nosmok]

It's kind of a gorgeous camera, with the rounded corners, single sharp edge, all plush black and shiny chrome, but it's hard to see a way into it to do repairs because of some of the ornamentation. Plus it has the smallest, squintiest rangefinder window I can remember.