Agfa Solinette II

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Ken Smith

Why yes Ma'am - it folds
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In the middle of doing a CLA on one of these. Is this a rear element focusing camera - it seems to be set up that way? How does one remove the front lens assembly to give the shutter a good soaking? The focusing mech is frozen, probably from Agfa's famous green goo. It's in a Prontor SV shutter by the way. I assume the front lens unscrews as in an Isolette.
 
You mean the little folder, right? It's a unit focusing design -- the entire lens/shutter assembly move when focusing.

You focusing by turning that large serrated dial at the base of the lens/shutter assembly.

The front lens element unscrews. There might be two small holes in the lens bezel for a spanner wrench. Or you can use a rubber plug (push and turn).
 
Mike - Yes the little Agfa 35mm folder w/Solinar lens. The focusing is/was frozen stiff. I removed the lens/shutter assembly and now the focusing ring moves freely which must mean the rotating part of the shutter/lense assembly is stuck - probably from the hardened green lube. The lens bezel is removable but only the front lens comes off with this. The middle lens unit is still attached to the shutter housing. I am assumbing this also screws off allowing access to the internal parts of the shutter.
 
I cleaned the Helicoid of a Super Solinette. Should be about the same as the Solinette II.
I didn't want to open the shutter (didn't need that) but read somewhere that the whole frontgroup could be detached by removing the middle ring at the back.

As you observed rightly the camera focusses by moving the whole shutter/lens combination.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/29504544@N08/sets/72157623742221264/
 
Ken Smith said:
Mike - Yes the little Agfa 35mm folder w/Solinar lens. The focusing is/was frozen stiff. I removed the lens/shutter assembly and now the focusing ring moves freely which must mean the rotating part of the shutter/lense assembly is stuck - probably from the hardened green lube. The lens bezel is removable but only the front lens comes off with this. The middle lens unit is still attached to the shutter housing. I am assumbing this also screws off allowing access to the internal parts of the shutter.
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I have a very smooth focusing unit by using Tri-Flow from the bike shop. Be careful to only use enough so not to get any on the leafs. It sounds had but it isn't. Mine needs a new bellows but nobody makes one. I have a couple of leads but the old bellows would be used as a pattern which the removal of is beyond me.
 
With the Prontor-SV on my Franka Solida III i indeed had to remove the middle lens element to reach the innards of the shutter. Did this with a rubber tool (turn ccw) but maybe with your Solinette there are slits on the lens barrel.
 
No slits on the lens barrel so it will take use of the rubber tool you mention. Actually I use a thick piece of synthetic chamois which has the same effect.

I did find the source of the frozen focus mechanism. I now understand exactly how the focusing mechanism works and both parts of the helical are frozen together via the solidified green lubricant. The focusing rings spins within its range of motion, but the internal brass sleeve of the helical it frozen to the other sleeve. A careful application of heat via a soldering iron yielded no results. So I have now applied naftha to the threads hoping it will soak in and work over time.
 
After dousing the helical w/natha and letting it soak, I did manage to separate it, clean, and re-grease. The shutter got a good soaking and rinse w/natha and all speeds sound good as well as the self timer. Lenses were cleaned. The whole thing went back together reasonably easy. Loaded some film ....

Then found the winding mechanism so stiff that it ripped through the preferations on the film. Another strip and clean, this time of the film advance and winding mechanisms. Some polishing of the winding shafts and film counter shaft, some judicious application of grease and now it works like a charm. Now if I can just get time to set out and put it to work. Can't wait to see the results of the Solinar.
 
Ken Smith said:
After dousing the helical w/natha and letting it soak, I did manage to separate it, clean, and re-grease. The shutter got a good soaking and rinse w/natha and all speeds sound good as well as the self timer. Lenses were cleaned. The whole thing went back together reasonably easy. Loaded some film ....

Then found the winding mechanism so stiff that it ripped through the preferations on the film. Another strip and clean, this time of the film advance and winding mechanisms. Some polishing of the winding shafts and film counter shaft, some judicious application of grease and now it works like a charm. Now if I can just get time to set out and put it to work. Can't wait to see the results of the Solinar.
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Check the bellows. I hope it is OK. Mine isn't. Be sure you understand how to rewind the film it can also cause ripping of film. This is for the RF model but the rest is the same:

http://www.cameramanuals.org/agfa_ansco/agfa_super_solinette.pdf
 
Tested the bellows with a Sure Fire - brightest flash light around. Light tight. The roll of film that was damaged has been sacrificed to perform duties as a test roll for possible other folders to come. Camera rewinds easily now too.

As for the bellows removal comment you had earlier: if you look past the folding mechanism to where the bellows fits up against the camera body, you'll see four screws, one at each corner of the bellows. They attach a square metal frame to the body that secures the bellows. In order to get to the bottom two screws you'll have to remove the lens/shutter body, then remove the 4 screws from the inside of the bellows at each corner and remove the focusing ring mech. Once all this is removed and out of the way, you should be able to remove the screws and the bellows should come free of the body.
 
I didn't remove my bellows, but after giving the camera a good go-over, that's my theory on how to remove them. A practical reason for those screws as any.
 
Ken Smith said:
I didn't remove my bellows, but after giving the camera a good go-over, that's my theory on how to remove them. A practical reason for those screws as any.
Click to expand...

I got my Solinette out of Purgatory after reading your post and I have to agree. For some reason I was just sure you had to do it for the inside of the camera. Thanks again.
 
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