Setting VN shutter speed

[Jeremy Greenaway]

I've now added another, good, working VN press camera to my existing pair - the newbie is a rather unusual model with black lacquered struts and external bits instead of the nice shiny chrome variety. I suspect it may have been a WW2 camera or even military/police etc - discreet semi non-reflective black! Another unusual factor is that it has a Carl Zeiss Jena Tessar 15cm f4.5 lens rather than the usual Ross Express. The Tessar dates from 1924 according to the s/n - before the VN's were actually being made! Curious. Secondly, it's so long (60 years) since I used one when I started off as a trainee that I've forgotten how to set the speed - I recall one of my mentors used a coin to set the aperture. The 'manual' and griff on line are vague and unhelpful in the extreme. By the way, I DO know how to work the big top shutter knob as well as the lower tensioner. But I STILL can't figure out how to set the blinds open to use the screen. Anyone help please???!!!!!

 

[rknewcomb]

Hello,
This site may help or is at least good information.
https://lommen9.home.xs4all.nl/European/index.html
To set the curtain width you turn the winding knob to start charging the shutter, when the lower curtain is about halfway up you press inward on the shutter winding knob, you will feel a difference in the winding and then you rotate the knob to increase or decrease the opening between curtains. Once you reach the curtain opening size you want, you discontinue pressing in the winding knob but continue turning it until the shutter is cocked. To get a full open curtain for using the focusing screen, I believe you do as above but have the little knob on the lower right of the camera set to "T". You may also need to then fire the shutter button once so the curtains will open.
I hope this helps.
Robert

I'd love to see a picture of your new camera.

 

[Jeremy Greenaway]

Hello Robert,
Thanks for that. I've tried that several times on all the cameras but don't seem to achieve any difference. I'll keep trying . . . also when set to I, the blinds don't lock. They both wind to the top and wizz back down when pressure on the winding knob is released. Incidentally, I've come to the conclusion that my latest acquisition - the all-black job - may be a very early VN. I cannot find a serial number - it's usually engraved on the thumb plat for the front standard. It has some quite distinct differences from my other two chrome finish ones. The film holder backs are different and the front standard is not removable as with the chrome ones. I'll get round to uploading some images of the differences in the fullness of time!
Jeremy
Bit of an update: I've found an ad in the BJP of 1932 - the year Peeling and Van Neck launched the new camera - and it shows exactly the version I've acquired, with all-black fittings and front standard and lens board different from the shiny jobs. Perhaps this explains why no serial number.