Target Brownie Six-20 (not Brownie Target Six-20) faceplate

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I need to remove the faceplate to clean and re-glue mirrors. Ever single one I've seen has four small screws, except mine (naturally). Mine has either rivets or they're microscopic nuts. I'll dig out my large magnifying glass and get a better look.

Anyone have an idea how to deal with this, short of drilling them out? I don't know that there's enough metal back there to thread a screw in.

This is the same model, but the screws in the corners...aren't.

6796674248_45590cd0b6_z.jpg
 

shutterfinger

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It has been my limited experience that the front section with the lens and shutter is snapped into the body via a raised bump and a dimple system. Gentle, careful prying and pulling between the front frame and body will separate the two allowing access to the view windows, shutter and lens rear bu holding the shutter open.
 
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https://www.brownie-camera.com/82.shtml
It has been my limited experience that the front section with the lens and shutter is snapped into the body via a raised bump and a dimple system. Gentle, careful prying and pulling between the front frame and body will separate the two allowing access to the view windows, shutter and lens rear bu holding the shutter open.

Not on this one. My Brownie Six-20 Model F works like that. I made the assumption this one does too.

On the Model F the back opens on hinges and the camera obscura and film carriage pull out of the body. The front snaps on and off as you describe. On this one, the body comes off the front revealing the camera obscura and the film carriage, but the assembly stays attached to the front. There are no screws inside, all rivets.

I saw a video in which the narrator removed the viewing glass by prying them out to access the rear of the front viewing glass and the mirrors. Looking at this camera, I need to get to the backside of the lens. Other than dirt and one of the mirrors being totally loose, the camera is in pretty decent shape. I'd hate to set it on the shelf as a display piece.
 

AgX

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Anyone have an idea how to deal with this, short of drilling them out? I don't know that there's enough metal back there to thread a screw in.

As you already considered drilling (milling) them out, why then not just glue the faceplate back on? You might use doublesided adhesive tape as then there is a chance to get the plate off again if necessary in the future, by applying some heat.
 
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Thanks guys, I actually got it sorted. The big magnifying glass revealed that they are indeed tiny little hex-head bolts. I don't think even a set of precision nut drivers would have one that would fit. I used a set of forceps to clamp on the head at the flats and after a couple of slips, they unscrewed easily without scratching the faceplate. Once out the faceplate lifted off, but there's a flat piece of metal under it that the lens and the front view glasses are mounted on. The bulb lever is attached to backside of the plate. In order to remove it, I had to gently bend the bulb lever so it could be pulled through the slot in the camera frame. I believe that's how it was assembled originally, since the lens and viewing glasses are held on with bent metal tabs from the back. There's no other way to access them. Once that was accomplished I had free access to everything. The shutter works perfectly, but this has got to be the dirtiest, skankiest camera I've found yet. The mirrors had a crust on them, as did the lens and the viewing glasses. Even the lens behind the shutter was crusty. I got it all cleaned up, blew/wiped it all out and glued the mirror back in, its drying right now. I used a cleaner/conditioner on the leatherette and glued a couple of loose corners down with contact cement.

It looks pretty decent. The faceplate cleaned up pretty well. My only concern at this point is getting those little bolts started again. I don't want to clam them in the forceps for fear if any of them pop out, they'd be long gone.

Thanks for the advice! At least they weren't rivets.
 
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I was able to use my fumble fingers and get them started, spun them back down with a pair of needle nose pliers standing up like a driver. It looks great, the glass is all clear, the mirror is back where it belongs and best of all, everything works as it should. Time for some film!
 

AgX

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The big magnifying glass revealed that they are indeed tiny little hex-head bolts. I don't think even a set of precision nut drivers would have one that would fit.

Miniature hex-bolts, back then... I'm surprised.
I got myself a miniature hex-bolt drivers-set and hardly ever had to use.the smallest ones. And that was on clockworks nuts.


At my boxes with foggy or corroded mirrors I would have to tear off the paper cover, then somehow unfold sheet metal rims... I rather leave the mirrors as they are...
 
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