Prontor SVS searching replacement shutter leaflet (blade)

stan_1 · Mar 13, 2024

I am searching for replacement shutter leaflets for a prontor svs shutter for a franka solida iii. The shutter assembly has an internal diameter of the „hole in the middle“ of 29.5mm, and the diameter of the entire assembly case ist 57.5mm.
solida iii are quite rare to come by, does anyone have any experience from which other camera/shutter I could use the leaflets or some place i can buy such leaflets?

Romanko · Mar 13, 2024

I believe you are looking for "shutter blades". It might be easier to find a replacement/donor shutter than sourcing the blades. I have a Braun Paxina 29 camera with a Pronto (not SVS) shutter which appears to be the right size for your Franka. Pronto SVS is a fairly common shutter you should have no problem finding one (with a bit of patience).
What is the lens on your Solida III?

stan_1 · Mar 13, 2024

Romanko said:
I believe you are looking for "shutter blades". It might be easier to find a replacement/donor shutter than sourcing the blades. I have a Braun Paxina 29 camera with a Pronto (not SVS) shutter which appears to be the right size for your Franka. Pronto SVS is a fairly common shutter you should have no problem finding one (with a bit of patience).
What is the lens on your Solida III?

It‘s the radionar 2.9 75. You are right I mean the shutter blades. Do they all have the same sizes or are there prontor/svs with different blade sizes?

Romanko · Mar 13, 2024

stan_1 said:
It‘s the radionar 2.9 75. You are right I mean the shutter blades. Do they all have the same sizes or are there prontor/svs with different blade sizes?

Pronto shutters come in different sizes, just like other shutters. I never compared Pronto SVS and Pronto side by side, so I can't tell if the parts are interchangeable.
Chris Sherlock made a series of videos on servicing Braun Paxettes with both types of shutters. The first video is here:
Warning! Chris's videos are highly addictive.

I have a Radionar 4.5 105 mm on my Franka Rolfix. It is one of my favorite and most used cameras. The shutter is also Pronto.

stan_1 · Mar 13, 2024

Thanks, i like the solida so far also quite well. How do i find potential cameras that have the right shutter blade size?

Ian Grant · Mar 13, 2024

There's a UK ebay seller with some NIB Prontor shutters, but there are also some in Germany. International postage is extortionate now.The major problem is there are so many Prontor variations for folding cameras.

It's probable that post WWII #0 size Pronto (3 speed), Prontor S, SV, & SVS used the same shutter blades, I have a Gauthier service manual and there are only two types of blade shown, the different ones are for the interchangeable lens Prontor shutters.

Ian

Romanko · Mar 13, 2024

stan_1 said:
How do i find potential cameras that have the right shutter blade size?

I am a bit far from Germany so can't answer this question. Big used camera shops, collector clubs and camera fairs are the usual places.
The service manual for Pronto is available for very little money:

Prontor SV, SVS, and Pronto Shutter Repair Manual

Factory service manual

learncamerarepair.com

I also have a service manual that I found online some time ago but I am not sure if I am allowed to post it here.

stan_1 · Mar 13, 2024

Romanko said:
I am a bit far from Germany so can't answer this question. Big used camera shops, collector clubs and camera fairs are the usual places.
The service manual for Pronto is available for very little money:

Prontor SV, SVS, and Pronto Shutter Repair Manual

Factory service manual

learncamerarepair.com

I also have a service manual that I found online some time ago but I am not sure if I am allowed to post it here.

Thanks, I have that manual and it lists all the parts of different shutter models, but how do I find out which model is in which cameras? Do you have some information on that? Is it in this manual?

Ian Grant · Mar 13, 2024

stan_1 said:
Thanks, I have that manual and it lists all the parts of different shutter models, but how do I find out which model is in which cameras? Do you have some information on that? Is it in this manual?

With difficulty, often the differences are quite minor, for instance just the shape and size of the release arm, or instead rear release.

Balda 120 cameras with the 80mm f2.9 Baldanar appear to have the same release arm. I have one on a Pronto shutter.

Ian

stan_1 · Mar 14, 2024

I did some search and it appears that this is the size of prontor shutters that also are on all the german 6x9 folders with 105mm lenses. Ordered one in broken condition with a prontor-s shutter. Will see.
The baldas baldix look extremely similar to the solidas, but they‘re rare too.
There are also fully new svs shutter for like 65€, but for just one blade… after I cleaned this shutter from grease including the aperture (10!) and the shutter blades!!! Won‘t buy it as a matter of principle

Romanko · Mar 14, 2024

I am wondering what is wrong with the shutter blade you need to replace.

stan_1 · Mar 14, 2024

Romanko said:
I am wondering what is wrong with the shutter blade you need to replace.

The blade has two holes where it is held by the mechanism, the larger outside hole has a bit that has broken off, so it has like 1mm extra space, so when the shutter fires it sometimes gets too far in and leaves a slot on the outer rim of the shutter open after firing.
You think there could be something wrong with the shutter? I bought the camera as for parts because it was all greased up and wouldn‘t open and close normally. I cleaned it and it fires quite well now, but I‘m not sure whether that bit was already missing at the beginning or whether it got broken later.

MattKing · Mar 14, 2024

Thread title tweaked for clarity.

Romanko · Mar 14, 2024

stan_1 said:
You think there could be something wrong with the shutter? I bought the camera as for parts because it was all greased up and wouldn‘t open and close normally.

There is a good chance that the shutter blade was damaged when someone tried to force the shutter with its blades glued together by old grease and gunk.

... and now you have two old folders to repair: the parts camera and the donor for the parts camera.

stan_1 · Mar 15, 2024

Romanko said:
There is a good chance that the shutter blade was damaged when someone tried to force the shutter with its blades glued together by old grease and gunk.

... and now you have two old folders to repair: the parts camera and the donor for the parts camera.

the donor camera might have to move to the photolab „upstate“ where it can play with all those black and white enlargers and slide projectors

Steve906 · Mar 15, 2024

Hi. I bought an Agfa Silette for £9 (eb*y) in bad cosmetic condition as donor - Has a SVS shutter.
Not taken apart yet but looks the same size as many older folders.

grain elevator · Mar 15, 2024

stan_1 said:
the donor camera might have to move to the photolab „upstate“ where it can play with all those black and white enlargers and slide projectors

Or you could turn it into a pinhole camera!

stan_1 · Mar 20, 2024

So here‘s my update. I got a defective zeiss ikon nettar 6x9 with a prontor s shutter on a 105mm f4,5 lens. The outer diameter of the shutter was of the same size and the blades fit perfectly, the form of the blades was almost identical to the solida iii prontor-svs.
So can‘t wait to see the first images. No experience with this camera yet. Have a Radionar 80 f2,9. how will it compare to the Agfa super isolette…

Prontor SVS searching replacement shutter leaflet (blade)

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