Agifold shutter

[pschauss]

I just received an Agifold that I won on ebay and have a few questions. For reference, the one that I have has shutter speeds 1-350 plus B and an uncoupled rangefinder. I have not run any film through it yet, but based on an initial quick test, it appears that the shutter speed is whatever it was set to when you cock the shutter. That is, if I set it to 1/350, cock the shutter, set it to 1/25, and trip the shutter, the shutter snaps at 1/350. Is this the way it is supposed to work?

As a more serious question, the slow speeds, 1/10 and below, don't seem to work. At these speeds, the shutter stays open unless I push cocking lever toward the uncocked position. Does this sound like a broken spring or just dried grease in the gears? How difficult is it to work on one of these shutters and are there any diagrams or instructions available anywhere?

Cosmetically it's a very nice looking camera. It is actually a bit smaller than my Iskra and my Super Ikonta (532/16) which would make it a nice for traveling. If the optics and faster shutter speeds turn out to be OK after I run some film through it, I may just ignore the slower speeds for a while.

Thanks.

 

[Alan Philpotts]

I have just pulled my Dad's Agifold out of the drawer. It's a scale focus 12-on with a 1-150 shutter. My brother has/had the [uncoupled] rangefinder version.

It's hardy been used in the last forty years so the shutter was a little sticky. But after a couple of actuations it sounds as if it's working properly. I needed to nudge the cocking lever gently towards uncocked to persuade it to go first time.

To answer your queries [based on a 1-150 shutter]:

# All speeds can be set before or after cocking the shutter
# Slow speeds 1-10 sound as if some gears are engaged

You are probably right about the dried grease.

I have never pulled the shutter apart, but somebody had worked on my brother's camera before he got it. The front lens element focuses on a multi-start helix. Whoever had put that camera back together had picked the wrong start - so it didn't focus properly until we fixed it.

Good luck with your Agi

A

 

[P C Headland]

My Agifold doesn't work like that! Mine fires on whatever the speed you set it to. The 1/350 setting requires more force to cock the shutter. That and the sticky low speeds suggests the shutter needs a CLA.

The lens isn't too bad, and is quite nice when used wide open - further open than the aperture scale markings:

 

[sevo]

Leaf shutters with top speeds increased over the basic model (on 0 or 00 folder shutters, usually anything with a top speed above 1/200s) have a extra spring for the maximum speed - it is perfectly normal that that has a different feel, needing extra force.

If your slow speeds are dragging, the speed governor needs a CLA - that is usually the first part to develop problems once the grease gets sticky.

 

[pschauss]

I ran a roll of film through the camera and got decent results. The shutter speeds 1/50 and above seem to work as intended. Although the uncoupled rangefinder takes some getting used to, it is really a rather nice camera, especially considering that I only paid $35 for it with shipping. When I get some time, I may try to do a CLA on the shutter, but in the meantime it is quite a usable camera.