Shutter repairs

[Jarvman]

I think I'm going to cry. My 19/21/28 triple convertible turner reich which hasn't even been used yet has taken a dive on the concrete. Now its well and truly f%£^&d. The shutter isn't firing properly at all. The upper speeds seem ok but the T and B settings won't even stay open. It wouldn't be a problem if they were working because most of my exposures are going to be longer than a second anyway. Does anybody know whether this will be repairable and where I could have this done? I shouldn't be allowed around expensive vintage equipment

 

[Markok765]

Dead Link Removed is great for repairs!

 

[Jarvman]

Are these occurances usually rectifiable? It won't be completely buggered and beyond all repair do you reckon?

 

[Markok765]

I really have no idea, send Sherry a email and see what she says.

 

[removed account4]

jarvman

is it a betax shutter ?
but you might look into
emailing carol at flutot's camera repair
she is an expert with large format shutters
and can probably fix yours ...

http://www.flutotscamerarepair.com/

good luck and sorry for your situation!

john

 

[Jarvman]

yeah its a betax 4. Ideally I'd rather not send it abroad. I was thinking of sending it to linhof studio here in the UK if they're up to the job.

 

[Steve Goldstein]

Here's another recommendation, though abroad (for you, they're in CA, USA): http://www.ictcamera.com. They fixed a non-working Copal 0 from an old 135mm Convertible Symmar, after it had been returned to me as non-repairable by another highly-recommended shop.

 

[j.green]

I had a similar problem with a Betax 4 shutter just the other week. It worked when I got the lens - a convertible Velostigmat, but after just one tour in the forest it just didn't. And just as yours, times fired fine but B and T didn't react.

So I opened the front, just one screw; nothing. So I opened the next level, very carefully, fired the shutter a few times and; voila.
Still don't know what happened, maybe it just needed a breath of fresh air, a glimpse of a blue cloudless sky - or an eveningwhite ceiling. Anyway, It's definitely a mystery I can live with.

My point is, maybe nothing really happened, and if you look carefully into it, with the love and affection old things need, the shutter will understand that too.

Gr.

 

[Ian Grant]

You can ask Black on White in Bristol, they do my repairs and are excellent. But Betax shutters are rare in the UK so parts could be a problem, having said that these shutters are dinosaur like compared to Compurs etc. I have one it's a brute.

Also try Newton & Ellis in Liverpool. Linhof Studios probably won't have the expertise for that shutter.

Ian

 

[cowanw]

If you need to go outside the United Kingdom and want to stay within the Commonwealth try Camtech In Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
Dead Link Removed
If you mail it to me I will make sure it gets done and back to you.

 

[Jarvman]

Hmm, I'm starting to think just buying a new shutter is the best way forward. Where could I come across a working Betax 4?

 

[Jarvman]

w00p w00p w00p

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&Item=150349144865

Crisis averted hopefully! One big sigh of relief! Thanks for your suggestions everyone. If this one isn't too good, which shouldn't be the case then its still available for parts should I need one of them repaired over here. Lucky I found that, it didn't appear when typing in 'Betax' for some funny reason, only came across it by typing in 'Wollensak'

 

[pete oakley]

Jarvman,
Flutots are brilliant, Carol makes everything easy and is happy to do buisness with people living abroad. E-mail them and ask if they can help before sending the shutter.
Pete.

 

[david_mizen]

what about sk grimes? they seem to have lots of stuff like this

 

[jimgalli]

If you are the type who can fix things, open it up and you will find a small wire spring that was rattled off a lever when you dropped it. If the lever doesn't have spring return the T and B won't work. Very likely all it needs is someone to tip it back where it needs to be with a tooth pick. Anyone who can repair a clock work can get this done for you.

If not, I have a good working usable Betax 4 that I boogered the lens it once held.