Tower Type-3 ... shutter won't work @ 1/500

[Jean Poitiers]

Hi,

I recently acquired a Tower Type-3 in great shape other than the 1/500 speed will not seem to work. I discovered this after the first test roll. The frames that are at 1/500 are not exposed except for a very small spot, thus no correct opening between the two curtains (?)

I have placed a piece of cut white paper in the film slot with the base off and eye tested the speeds. All look good enough except for 1/500. I double checked this method with my Leica IIIf and the paper insert is visible at 1/500, but not so on the Tower.

Are any adjustments possible, and if not, does anyone of a person for a possible CLA?

Thanks in advance for any input and have aa good day. Cheers, J

 

[Pioneer]

Youxin Yue did the CLA on mine four or five years ago. Still working well.

 

[binglebugbob]

Quite a few cameras with focal plane shutters can lose the higher speeds. On SLRs, (which I"m more familiar with) the curtains can be re tensioned. sort of like winding a spool in a roll up window blind. I suppose it's the same for rangefinder cameras with focal plane shutters. I don't know if leaving the shutter cocked between usage, or leaving it set on higher speeds weakens the spring tension or not, but it may When you buy a camera, it's a good idea to check the higher speeds by looking through the back. I"ve seen older SLRs with a top speed of maybe 1/250th sec. after losing shutter tension.

 

[E. von Hoegh]

Quite a few cameras with focal plane shutters can lose the higher speeds. On SLRs, (which I"m more familiar with) the curtains can be re tensioned. sort of like winding a spool in a roll up window blind. I suppose it's the same for rangefinder cameras with focal plane shutters. I don't know if leaving the shutter cocked between usage, or leaving it set on higher speeds weakens the spring tension or not, but it may When you buy a camera, it's a good idea to check the higher speeds by looking through the back. I"ve seen older SLRs with a top speed of maybe 1/250th sec. after losing shutter tension.

Not spring tension but lubrication.
Never increase the tension of the shutter springs in an attempt to compensate for thickened & contaminated lubricants.
Your camera needs to be serviced, probably a thorough overhaul considering it's around 60 or more years old.

 

[binglebugbob]

Not spring tension but lubrication.
Never increase the tension of the shutter springs in an attempt to compensate for thickened & contaminated lubricants.
Your camera needs to be serviced, probably a thorough overhaul considering it's around 60 or more years old.

Interesting. I've always assumed springs eventually weakened, especially if left under tension. Thanks for pointing this out.

 

[E. von Hoegh]

Interesting. I've always assumed springs eventually weakened, especially if left under tension. Thanks for pointing this out.

When I overhaul a camera, I retension the springs as I found them. More often than not, they need little or no tweaking.
Those springs are always under tension, cocked or not.
When I overhauled a Contax II, the original setting was correct - and those springs are now 82 years old.