Resurrecting Kodak NO. 4 Cartridge Camera w/Sticky Wollensak Regular Shutter

[My_Own_Speed]

First a disclaimer- I am absolutely new to large format photography.
But I'm not new at all to photography - analog or digital - or to disassembly, maintenance, repairs, reassembly of mechanical and electrical items as long as they aren't too complex or require special tools.

With that... I've inherited a Kodak NO. 4 Cartridge Camera that I want to resurrect and actually use.
Camera appears to be in good shape, other than wear on the leather surface, and viewfinders somewhere between translucent and opaque due to dirt, dust and grime. Bellows are Crack free, and all controls seen to work smoothly. No roller assembly for the roll film, but do have film holders that appear to be in good shape

However, the Wollensak "Regular" shutter needs some help. Pneumatics are smooth, aperture adjusts freely, lens elements are mostly scratch free, but the shutter sticks.

Maybe I'm naive, but feel that if I had some direction on how to disassemble and clean without destroying, I might be able to get it in working condition myself. Or still least judge if it's actually repairable. Closest things I've found online for this lens are a catalog, and one page of the patent application on Pinterest.

Am I on a fool's errand, or is there help for me out there?

 

[AnselMortensen]

Try www.alphaxbetax.com for more information about Wollensak lenses and shutters.

 

[Dan Fromm]

Hmm. The #4 FPK Cartridge Camera uses #123 roll film, discontinued in 1949. I don't think it is still available. It also took, I think, 4x5 glass plate holders, which can be adapted to take 4x5 sheet film.

If I were you, I'd verify that film that the camera can use is still available before starting work on it.

 

[nosmok]

With some very old lenses sticking, I sometimes have luck just cleaning the shutter blades where they cross with a Q-tip (and maybe a very little alcohol if they're not paper), waiting for them to thouroughly dry, and putting a tiny amount of graphite powder on the blades (use another Q-tip). Gurry builds up on shutter blades over the years and can overwhelm aging springs or air pistons. It won't get you 100% of the way back, but I've gotten good enough results to make the lens useable.

 

[My_Own_Speed]

Hmm. The #4 FPK Cartridge Camera uses #123 roll film, discontinued in 1949. I don't think it is still available. It also took, I think, 4x5 glass plate holders, which can be adapted to take 4x5 sheet film.

If I were you, I'd verify that film that the camera can use is still available before starting work on it.

I understand the roll film isn't available, and I'm missing the roll mechanism anyway. I would be using it with 4x5 sheet film. Still working with the shutter before deciding next steps.

 

[My_Own_Speed]

With some very old lenses sticking, I sometimes have luck just cleaning the shutter blades where they cross with a Q-tip (and maybe a very little alcohol if they're not paper), waiting for them to thouroughly dry, and putting a tiny amount of graphite powder on the blades (use another Q-tip). Gurry builds up on shutter blades over the years and can overwhelm aging springs or air pistons. It won't get you 100% of the way back, but I've gotten good enough results to make the lens useable.

Thanks. Still working with it, but don't think I'll make more progress without opening it up. It feels like the lever is catching, and it seems to matter which way I hold it, so something might be loose. Shutter opened and closed a few times, but unreliably. Generally won't move past a football shape without a little help.