Wirgin Waist Level Finder - Closing Mechanism Issue

[Hamoosh]

Hello,
I recently picked up an Edixa Reflex A to learn to tune up. One aspect I am excited to try is the waist level viewfinder, however it appears it is missing the mechanism that holds it closed and opens the doors. I am wondering if anyone is able to take well lit photos of their unit (or measurements) showing this missing piece, or provide feedback on how theirs closes and opens up.

Is appears a pin/dowel and metal bar are missing on the side that faces towards the user. I have attached photos of my unit as well as one off the web showing what is missing.

[reference photo 1] https://www.khasakh.com/?e=20716493011630
[reference photo 2] Wirgin Edixa Waist Level Viewfinder


[remaining photos mine]






Thanks! New member so let me know if there is more I can provide.

 

[Coldkennels]

I just grabbed mine off the shelf - first thing you should know is that it's threaded and holds a bent piece of metal in place:


The head sits unusually proud of the surface:



And is predictably a flat slot head:



I'm not going to do exploratory disassembly on mine at the mo, but my verniers make the total length (from top of head to end of threaded shaft) 13.5mm and the head itself measures 3.5mm and sits 2.25mm proud of the rear edge of the viewfinder before it's depressed.

Hopefully you can repair it - while the prism finder is much easier to use, the WLF just feels right on an Edixa. These things are lovely.

 

[Hamoosh]

Thank you @Coldkennels , that helps a lot to get going. No need to disassemble and go out of the way. I will aim to upload measurements here when I start work on it.

 

[Muggins]

If you ever find yourself dismantling fixed lens cameras, the combination of waist level viewfinder and pop-up focussing aid make the Edixa Flex a good choice for setting up a collimation rig when you put them back together.

You can use any SLR with a detachable prism, I used to use a Nikon F3, but the little magnifier makes all the difference.

 

[Muggins]

Incidentally, if you are tuning up your Edixa Flex, to get into the bottom of the camera, there are three screws hidden under the annular leather trim round the tripod bush. The glue is shellac, so if you moisten the leatherette with a bit of alcohol you should be able to tease up an edge and gently remove it. Be aware that there are three apparently random pieces of metal that will probably fall out when you take the bottom off, these appear to be spacers. The two longer ones go at each end and the roundish one over one of the screwholes - you should see witness marks where they were stuck. Leastaways, that's where I've put mine back, and it seems to work...

Guess how I found out.

 

[Hamoosh]

Incidentally, if you are tuning up your Edixa Flex, to get into the bottom of the camera, there are three screws hidden under the annular leather trim round the tripod bush. The glue is shellac, so if you moisten the leatherette with a bit of alcohol you should be able to tease up an edge and gently remove it. Be aware that there are three apparently random pieces of metal that will probably fall out when you take the bottom off, these appear to be spacers. The two longer ones go at each end and the roundish one over one of the screwholes - you should see witness marks where they were stuck. Leastaways, that's where I've put mine back, and it seems to work...

Guess how I found out.

Thanks for the heads up! The leather on this one is barely hanging on so I will be replacing it anyways.

 

[Hamoosh]

I just grabbed mine off the shelf - first thing you should know is that it's threaded and holds a bent piece of metal in place:
View attachment 4883786

The head sits unusually proud of the surface:

View attachment 4883785

And is predictably a flat slot head:

View attachment 4883784

I'm not going to do exploratory disassembly on mine at the mo, but my verniers make the total length (from top of head to end of threaded shaft) 13.5mm and the head itself measures 3.5mm and sits 2.25mm proud of the rear edge of the viewfinder before it's depressed.

Hopefully you can repair it - while the prism finder is much easier to use, the WLF just feels right on an Edixa. These things are lovely.

Does the screw have a spring being it as well? Seems like there's space for one.

 

[Muggins]

Bar one Kodak box Brownie I was given, I don't think I've come across another camera that loses its leatherette like this one, I've seen pics of many that are moulting badly.

In case I have to go back in and need to get that annular trim off again, I'm going to mix up my own shellac and try sticking it back with that.

 

[Coldkennels]

Does the screw have a spring being it as well? Seems like there's space for one.

Yeah, there must be - the screw has to bounce back after being pushed in, after all.