Spring for Burke and James Press

[Darkroom317]

I was given a Burke and James Press camera a couple of years ago. One night when I was using it the spring that locks the front standard popped off. So, it does not lock. I have been using it a while but it has been getting worse. Does anyone know where I could find a spring to fix it or at least post a photo of what it looks like since I can't remember.

Thanks

 

[DWThomas]

OK, a quick and dirty attempt (good, because the camera is a bit dirty anyway!)



The coiled part of the spring is about 1/8 inch in diameter and 1.4 inches long. The two loops at the end extend the overall length to about 1.6 inches. It seems barely stretched as seen, but is a fairly stiff number -- I'd guess the wire is about 0.020 inch diameter (no easy way to measure without taking it off).

Hope that helps.


(I really ought to clean this camera up and treat the bellows -- urp -- more tasks on the list.)

 

[Darkroom317]

Thank you! This is most help I have had in months. I tried a similar spring but could not get the hoops around the ends well. I think it was too big

 

[DWThomas]

Hmmm -- Old Man Winter is shaking the house, so I'm stuck here ....

A clearer view of the spring (looking up from under the bed). Followed by measurements with the spring removed:


The body of the spring is about 1.40 long x 0.16 diameter, made out of 0.024 wire.


The overall length is about 1.68 or so overall.

The length is such there is little stretching when the actuators aren't squeezed, it seems that may make it pretty easy to pop off if it got poked with something. (But it does make it easy to take off or put on with heavy needle nose pliers.)

Then a suggestion for a crude and cheap replacement shown next to the B&J spring, the spring of a ballpoint pen refill floating around here.

One could bend the last loop down at each end and stretch it across. Most likely far from optimum, but might be better than none.

Ace Hardware stores (at least here) have an aisle with assorted and sundry hardware in compartmented boxes on pull-out slides; can't remember if they might have small springs among the goodies.

Another temporary semi-fix might be a rubber band or 'O' ring sized suitably to stretch across there, although it might interfere a bit with the lever that locks the front shift slide.

(Have fun! )

 

[heespharm]

Have you tried a rubber band doubled over a couple of times? I've fixed something similar with an industrial strength rubberband


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