[rollei_list] I feel complete now
- From: "Allan Derickson" <alland435@xxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <rollei_list@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Thu, 22 Jul 2010 18:54:37 -0700
I picked up the last camera I've ever lusted after: a Wide Angle Rolleiflex.
I've wanted one for over 40 years but either never had sufficient funds
(early on) or couldn't justify the expense (later on). I'm two and a half
years away from retirement and one of the things I've had to come to grips
with is that I pretty much have all the money I'm ever going to have. 25% of
my salary is going into retirement accounts, I'm helping my son with college
tuition, and that doesn't leave much for hobby expenses. My little
non-retirement nest egg I'm zealously guarding for emergencies, vacations,
cars, and absolute must-haves.
I wanted this camera as a user - I have no desire to admire a mint example
on a shelf in my den - so cosmetics were not an issue. Functionality was,
however, and I didn't want a camera that wouldn't take high quality
pictures, or at least after some work had the potential to take nice photos.
I've been seriously looking for about a year. Last Christmas I thought
obtaining a 0.7 Mutar would satisfy my desire but no, it didn't, I wanted a
55mm Distagon. Fully functional Rolleiwides in nice condition currently
fetch from $3000 on up unless you are uncommonly lucky and, like one fellow,
stumble across one at a church rummage sale for $850.
A few weeks ago one came up for auction on ebay that had serious corrosion
issues. I had no desire to take that on but I watched the bidding. It went
for over $1500. Then some time later I saw mine. The seller's story was that
it had sat in a desk for 30 years and the shutter wouldn't fire and it would
take about $300 in repairs to set right. She had fairly decent photos of it
and I examined them closely looking for dents, nasty glass, or other
showstoppers. It didn't have the right viewing hood - looks like someone
swapped it out for one from a Rolleicord or a T. It had the optical glass
back and the serial number indicated it was fairly late in the production,
probably built around 1964. The leather looked well wore and the paint was
worn off the edges but it didn't look like it had suffered any serious
trauma. I decided to bid on it.
I got it with a bid in the last two seconds for $1671. It arrived the other
day and looked as expected. It had an old sticker from a studio on the back
so it was used commercially. I can tell by the leather that it has been
opened up and serviced in the past, probably multiple times. As expected the
optical glass plate was not included but interestingly the pressure plate
was set in the glass position. The lenses look very nice. There are no
signs of separation and no serious cleaning marks. There is one small dent
in the lower corner of the front panel. It focuses smoothly. The shutter
indeed does not fire and feels like it is not being cocked as it is wound.
My assumption is a commercial photographer used it hard for 10-15 years and
kept it serviced until finally it broke and he decided it wasn't worth
fixing and just put it in a drawer.
I took off the crank side plate because that's easy and immediately
discovered the problem. A broken spring was rattling around in there which
is supposed to be connected to the cocking lever. It's actually in a place I
can get to with much disassembly of the winding mechanism. Now, does anyone
have any idea where I could obtain a replacement spring? I've looked online
and at my local hardware store to no avail. It doesn't look like Micro-tools
carries them.
I assume it will also need a shutter CLA but I'd like to fix the obvious
problem first and see where I stand.
Allan
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