Sad, sad news

ctrout · Nov 10, 2017

I received back a gorgeous classic today (1957 Asahi Pentax AP) from my normal repairman, Eric Hendrickson, and he said that he can't repair it. The note that he left with my paypal refund says this:

"Will credit you 125.00 I took the unit apart and found that the shutter curtain streamer is torn. I don't have the parts available to fix it. Returning unrepaired."

When I sent the body out to him, the shutter would cock and fire, although sometimes the timing of the mirror was off and the curtains would run but the mirror would not operate. When I got the camera back, it locked up the first time I activated the lever to cock the shutter.

He recently completely replaced the shutter curtains on a similar model, the Pentax K, so I'm wondering what the "shutter curtain streamer" is. Is there anyone who can repair this for a reasonable price? The curtain replacement on my K cost me $80. Eric was going to charge me $125 for the CLA so I suppose that $200 + or - a bit would be reasonable for someone to replace the shutter curtain streamer and finish the CLA, restoring this cosmetically excellent classic to full working condition.

Recommendations?

RalphLambrecht · Nov 11, 2017

ctrout said:
I received back a gorgeous classic today (1957 Asahi Pentax AP) from my normal repairman, Eric Hendrickson, and he said that he can't repair it. The note that he left with my paypal refund says this:

"Will credit you 125.00 I took the unit apart and found that the shutter curtain streamer is torn. I don't have the parts available to fix it. Returning unrepaired."

When I sent the body out to him, the shutter would cock and fire, although sometimes the timing of the mirror was off and the curtains would run but the mirror would not operate. When I got the camera back, it locked up the first time I activated the lever to cock the shutter.

He recently completely replaced the shutter curtains on a similar model, the Pentax K, so I'm wondering what the "shutter curtain streamer" is. Is there anyone who can repair this for a reasonable price? The curtain replacement on my K cost me $80. Eric was going to charge me $125 for the CLA so I suppose that $200 + or - a bit would be reasonable for someone to replace the shutter curtain streamer and finish the CLA, restoring this cosmetically excellent classic to full working condition.

Recommendations?

the camera needs a decent retirement and a qualified replacement.

ctrout · Nov 11, 2017

Why is it that this piece can't be repaired?

adelorenzo · Nov 11, 2017

You sent it to the guy known as the best Pentax repairman on the planet. If he says he can't fix it I'd take his word for it. He would know better than any of us.

shutterfinger · Nov 11, 2017

ctrout said:
I took the unit apart and found that the shutter curtain streamer is torn

A horizontal travel focal plane shutter has two curtains on two spools, the supply and the take up. The curtains run from the supply to the take up without touching each other except at the seal between the two. The first curtain, the one you see when the shutter is cocked, has a narrow band above and below the second, the second has narrow bands in the same manner to the first curtain. I assume by streamer he is referring to one of the narrow bands.
There are several Pentax service manuals here: http://www.pentax-manuals.com/manuals/service/servicemanuals.htm
I have a SP 1000 in the classifieds for sale.

Theo Sulphate · Nov 11, 2017

Repairmen that I know usually have a lot of damaged cameras to serve as parts donors.

I would've thought a complete curtain assembly from other Pentaxes of that era might be available.

E. von Hoegh · Nov 11, 2017

ctrout said:
Why is it that this piece can't be repaired?

"Shutter curtain streamer" is an unfamiliar term to me. I can only speculate that perhaps it means the ribbons which connect the curtains to the rollers. These are typically thin silk grosgrain two to three mm. in width and one- quarter mm. or so in thickness. I've made new curtains, for a late 40s Canon IIb, and it's not a small project. I had to remove the old curtains, measure curtains and ribbons, duplicate these exactly including the metal slats for the edges of the curtains where the ribbons attach, make a jig to cement and sew everything together, then make another jig to install the curtains on the shutter rollers to ensure they would run straight and time correctly.This in addition to completely stripping the shutter mechanism to remove old degraded lubricants. Definitely not an inexpenive job.

E. von Hoegh · Nov 11, 2017

ctrout said:
Why is it that this piece can't be repaired?

Anything mechanical can be repaired, if you throw enough money at it. Like the guy who needed a new cylinder block for a WWI era Deusenberg walking beam racing engine, he made a set of patterns, had a block cast, then cut that casting into pieces, to see where the patterns needed to be modifed. Cast another, cut that one up too, just to be certain. I think it took three trial castings before he was satisfied.Then the final casting had to be macined.I cannot imagine the cost, but I do know a man in England needed a cylinder head for a Rolls -Royce Phantom I fabricated the same way, it cost ca. 30,000 GBP mid 1970s.

removed account4 · Nov 11, 2017

nice camera !
but it sounds like a nice memory now
im guessing if you like its design, model &c
for less than the amount you would throw at it to fix it
you could buy one that is used to replace it ...
at least now you know its achilles heal is the shutter curtain streamers ..

Sirius Glass · Nov 11, 2017

Call KEH, 1-800-342-5534, and see if they have the parts. If not, they can sell you a replacement with a warranty.

Sad, sad news

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