need help with CLE viewfinder

[ath]

Hello,

today arrived a Minolta CLE in excellent shape, looks nearly unused.
But in the viewfinder there are many specs, some look like round dots, some have the shape of cracks or dust. These specs are all over the viewfinder. The numbers 125 and 250 seem to be distorted.
The specs are invisible when I cover the illumination window and the frame masks seem to mask them off partially.

Is this a known phenomenon? Is the viewfinder dying (I suspect the reflective coating of the semi transparent mirror goes off)?

Any input is appreciated since I have to decide to keep or return it.

 

[cribox]

Never see this kind of damage... You can try to clean the viewfinder. First look at this pages to see how to remove the top cover; at your own risk of course...

Justin Low: http://justinlow.com/articles/repair-minolta-cle

Benoît Suaudeau (in french, adjusting rangefinder) http://www.suaudeau.eu/memo/rep/Minolta_CLE.html

 

[ath]

Thanks. I'll return it. I came to the conclusion that the mask which generates the numbers and the finder lines is degenerating. On top of that the self timer is not working.